Homeless women get 24-hour restroom

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999 | 11:07 a.m.

When the four major homeless shelters on Owens Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard close their doors for the night, they also close their restroom facilities to women who are living on the streets.

It's been an increasing problem for months, since the closure of MASH Village's temporary winter shelter in March. The shelter had offered portable toilets for the homeless to be used after hours. Since their closure, there have been fewer restrooms available to those without a place to call home, especially during the evening and night, Franciscan Brother David Buer, a homeless advocate, said.

"It's a tough situation for people living on the streets who have nowhere else to go," Buer, who is also a member of the Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition, said.

But thanks to a combined effort from the city, Catholic Charities has begun to provide a new service for women -- a restroom available 24 hours a day. Catholic Charities, a homeless shelter for men, will convert an existing restroom in the Lied Dining Facility to a women's restroom. A men's restroom is also located at the dining hall, at 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

The city of North Las Vegas has granted $5,000 toward the effort, backed by the city of Las Vegas and Clark County, which have pitched in $15,000 each. The money will go toward staffing a security guard and attendant at the women's restroom until Aug. 31, 2000.

"We serve homeless men here, but when the request came in for a women's restroom, we realized that now we have a different issue," Frank Richo, director of residential services for Catholic Charities, said.

Across the street at Shade Tree Shelter, the women's restroom is open to the homeless only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The restroom at Catholic Charities will be a great service for those who do not reside at the shelter, Brenda Dizon, executive director for the shelter, said.

"Having a women's restroom open right behind us is going to help everyone," she said.

Fliers and signs have already begun to spring up around the area announcing the new service. Buer stressed the importance of getting the word out to the homeless population.

"Homeless people were having to suffer because there was a reduction in (restroom) facilities," he said. "Now the homeless will have a bathroom available to them, one that is well maintained."