M.A.S.H. leader wants Clinton to veto proposed HUD cuts

Jace Radke

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.

Seeing a busy winter ahead, the Rev. Joe Carroll is praying for some help from one president to another.

As president of M.A.S.H. Village, a nonprofit homeless services provider, Carroll is asking President Clinton to stop proposed cuts of $1.6 billion to the Department of Housing and Urban Development budget.

"I'm praying that the president vetoes it," Carroll said. "It would be a disaster if these cuts pass. We're still trying to figure out how we're going to help everyone this winter, and if HUD funding is cut I don't know how we're going to do it."

The federal cuts would mean about $2.2 million would not be available in Las Vegas for M.A.S.H., Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, the Shade Tree Shelter, the Salvation Army and other service providers, HUD state coordinator Ken LoBene said.

Carroll said the funding cuts are expected to be voted on by the House in September.

"If HUD funds are cut it will undo a lot of what has been accomplished," Carroll said. "If the cuts come down and they are 25 percent, that's 25 percent fewer people we can help.

"It's not like we have extra beds now. We have a waiting list of people and families trying to get help, and the cuts would only further limit our efforts."

HUD Deputy Secretary Saul Ramirez, who was in Las Vegas Wednesday for a conference on an unrelated matter, said the cuts will be felt across the country.

"It's a consistent story in Las Vegas and everywhere else in the country," Ramirez said. "In Las Vegas, 202 potential homes for people and families will be wiped out, and while the number may be different in other places, every city will feel these cuts."

Ramirez says that HUD was anticipating debate on its funding, but did not see such a dramatic drop coming.

"President Clinton had actually proposed adding $2 billion to our budget, so in essence if the cuts pass we will lose about $3.6 billion," Ramirez said. "Our programs like continuative care have shown they work, and to pull this funding now would be squander an opportunity to continue to build on these successes."

Continuative care programs are geared to helping homeless people move into permanent housing.

HUD funds were used by Clark County for emergency homeless shelters last winter, and Carroll says that assistance will be needed again.

"What people don't realize is that no matter how good the economy is there are still people who can't take advantage of it," Carroll said. "Maybe they are sick or have a drug problem or need help finding low-income housing. The point is there are going to be people in need of help that aren't going to get it if these cuts are made."