Editorial: Homeless suffer in sweltering weather

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

For the homeless in Las Vegas, a bad situation has grown even worse. As the Sun's Aaron Clemens reported Tuesday, homeless advocates say that not only have 340 beds for homeless men been eliminated since April, but also set to close soon are a bathroom that serves from 400 to 500 men every day and two other restrooms that serve several dozen men each night.

For most Las Vegans, the soaring temperatures are an inconvenience. But for those who are homeless, severe temperatures that can crest above 110 degrees are more than an annoyance, they can be dangerous.

Part of the problem can be traced to a lack of government commitment to provide sufficient funding. The city of Las Vegas, meanwhile, inexcusably is six weeks late in approving $200,000 that is available for extreme weather shelters. All local governments in the valley should accelerate their efforts to provide adequate shelters and bathrooms for the homeless. It would be inhumane to do anything less.

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