Homeless protest over loss of funds for services

Aaron Clemens

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000 | 9:30 a.m.

Many of the homeless in Las Vegas have taken to the streets this summer, and not by choice.

Since April 340 beds for homeless men have been eliminated, homeless advocates say. In addition, a bathroom serving 400 to 500 homeless men daily and two bathrooms serving 40 to 50 people nightly are to be closed.

Led by Franciscan Friar David Buer, the homeless marched in protest Monday near the Salvation Army, 33 W. Owens Ave., and planned to march again this morning to the Clark County Commission meeting to make their concerns heard.

It is not just a county problem, however. According to records from the city of Las Vegas, funding for homeless services were 40 percent higher in 1997 than 1999, at $2.5 million compared with $1.8 million.

In addition, the city has fallen six weeks behind in allocating $200,000 in funds for extreme-weather shelters this year. The new council members have taken longer to appoint people to the committee that sorts out competitive bids from charities seeking to perform the services the city requests, Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Department spokesman Lucie Melchert said.

"If this area is going to be the homeless corridor, it needs to be funded," Buer said as he stood holding a sign reading "110 degrees. We need shelter." "I challenge the gaming industry to be more generous to the homeless. We have homeless because of gambling."

One-third of the homeless population consists of veterans, Ed Atchison, a local veteran administration liaison who came to observe and support the ragtag march, said. Many homeless people have mental health and substance abuse problems or a lack of mental capacity. Many homeless marching Monday had physical disabilities, some sitting in wheelchairs.

A white-haired homeless man who lacked a few front teeth boasted of having fought an exhibition bout against boxer Sonny Liston before he spoke of the need for shelters. He said he'd been homeless for a decade.

"It's my fault I'm in this situation," Don Cipolla said. "Some people tell me that if I could stop gambling my last quarter, I would be fine."

As another man wandered over and looked blankly on, Cipolla added, "But some people out here don't know if they are coming or going."

Only a handful of the homeless joined in the protest for any length of time. Many of them voiced support to the friar as they scurried toward a food line at the nearby Catholic Charities building.

One man who didn't want to be named said he had recently escaped the streets and a drug addiction. Without a consistent place to shower, homeless people who want to try to get back on their feet have no chance, he said.

"Nobody wants me coming into his or her establishment if I'm filthy," he said. "We need a support system. This is not life, it's barely surviving."