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County board hears plan for 12-bed “landing pad” to help people released from Clark County Jail
Summary
County and nonprofit partners described a 3-year, 12-bed pilot at the Center for Community Health — run by Coastal Community Action — to accept jail referrals, provide 24/7 short-term stabilization (14–30 days) and rapid case management to prevent release into homelessness; opening was moved to Aug. 10.
The Community Action Advisory Board on July 27 heard details of a new 3-year pilot called the landing pad, a 12-bed transitional housing program designed to receive people released from Clark County Jail and provide immediate case management and peer support.
"The landing pad is a 3 year pilot project," said Nathalie Duara Rankin, systems integrator program coordinator for the county behavioral health unit. She told the board the voluntary program will operate 24/7 at the Center for Community Health in space formerly used by Telecare and will provide intensive support to connect people to longer-term behavioral health and housing resources.
Anna Lookingville, manager of the jail programs unit, described the operational need: Clark County Jail had nearly 8,000 bookings in 2025 and high churn, with many releases within 72 hours and a concentration of releases after 6 p.m., when many providers are closed. "That’s why we need a resource that’s very quick and responsive," she said, explaining the program will pick up referred people from the jail and bring them to the landing pad within about 15 minutes.
Jennifer Gonzales, reentry program manager at Coastal Community Action (the service provider), outlined eligibility and safety rules. Some violent offenses and arson are excluded for insurance and safety reasons; the program is voluntary and not court-ordered. "12 beds is 12 beds," Gonzales said, acknowledging the pilot’s limited capacity while stressing the importance of warm handoffs to community partners.
Staff said operators will collect metrics — including length of stay, number of connections to behavioral health and housing providers, and exits to permanent housing or family — to evaluate whether the pilot reduces releases to homelessness. The intended opening date was adjusted from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10, and the county said it will monitor data in real time and consider scaling or other funding options if the pilot demonstrates need and effectiveness.
The board asked about program funding; staff said the project is supported by the county mental health sales tax and is being monitored as a three-year pilot. The landing pad coordinator will work with local homeless-response partners to connect participants to existing services.
