New MASH center houses key agencies

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 | 11:18 a.m.

If Las Vegas casinos and malls can offer one-stop services, why can't a homeless shelter?

At least that's the theory behind the MASH Crisis Intervention Center, which will open in three weeks as a one-stop service center for the needs of the homeless, near-homeless and otherwise poor of Southern Nevada.

A $1 million renovation of the old Smart & Final store near the Las Vegas-North Las Vegas boundary -- $700,000 of which was in donated labor and materials from area builders and other businesses -- was unveiled Monday at 1581 N. Main St.

City of Las Vegas officials and homeless rights advocates heralded it as a 13,000-square-foot center that could become a model for cities nationwide.

"Six years ago, 150 homeless people (and homeless rights advocates) stood on the steps of City Hall (seeking reforms), and (since then) we have pooled resources to share a common vision," said Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

"It brings together all essential services people will need."

About 30 agencies, including Nevada State Welfare, Child Protective Services, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Motor Vehicles will have offices in the building adjacent to the 40,000-square-foot, 300-bed Mobile Assistance and Shelter for the Homeless Village.

"Before, a homeless person would come in off the street and we would direct him to an agency that could help, but he would have to walk 20 or more blocks to get there," said the Rev. Joe Carroll, MASH's president.

"Often, the first thing our clients need to get is an ID card, and (with the DMV on the premises) that will be covered. If one service doesn't meet their needs, the one in the next office might."

MASH Program Manager Linda Lera-Randleel was one of those who stood on the steps of City Hall in 1991, protesting the lack of consideration for the needs of the homeless.

She sees the crisis center as a starting point in the process to help homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless achieve economic and social self-sufficiency.

"This is proof positive that something can be done," Lera-Randleel said, praising the city, federal government, state and private businesses for getting involved. "I have looked forward to this for some time."

The building has some bright and pleasant features -- among them, small frosted glass window fixtures, diamond-shaped room signs and warm colors -- not usually associated with drab homeless shelters.

"Good architectural environment makes people want to help themselves," said Carroll, a Catholic priest who also operates a shelter in San Diego and was ex-President George Bush's Thousand Points of Light No. 42.

"Our clients want to believe that tomorrow will be a better day."

Several offices and other rooms were not completed in time for Monday's dedication ceremony. Among them are both client bathrooms and the employee lounge. Also, the air-conditioner was not working up to snuff.

Carroll said all of those glitches would be resolved before the building opens for business.

While the majority of shelters in town handle the needs of a mostly single male homeless population, the MASH Crisis Intervention Center figures to see a lot more homeless families.

"We are expecting about 60 percent of our clients to be families," Carroll said.

"Our goal is to keep the family together and help resolve problems. We're not out to take their kids away and put them in foster homes. It costs a lot more to do that than to help people get back on their feet.

"For this to be successful, people need to feel welcome."

Carroll said a good deal of effort will go toward promoting the center as a place for people to go before they are homeless or otherwise destitute.

Funded by the city and Clark County, the MASH shelter opened three days before Christmas 1995. The city purchased the crisis center building four years ago.

While it was being remodeled over the last six months, Lera-Randleel and other MASH workers shared cramped quarters at Catholic Charities' St. Vincent shelter across the street from MASH Village.

The general contractor for the crisis center project was Real Property Services Corp.