One-stop help given homeless

Kris Hill

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 10:07 a.m.

Crowds of homeless men, women and families flocked to Cashman Center Wednesday to stock up on necessities and take advantage of a variety of services at the eighth annual Stand Down Day for the Homeless.

More than 1,000 people waited in line for the doors to open at 8 a.m.

Later, hundreds waited in line for lunch in a dining area where 40 tables were set up.

The hairstyling firm Supercuts set up a station on one side of the hall next to the lunch area. More than 20 hairstylists were working at any given time.

And to the right of the haircut station was a karaoke stage, where the tunes of R&B artists such as Mary J. Blige were belted out.

Other vital services and basic necessities such as clothing were piled high on tables in the thrift store area, and health exams were conducted by volunteers from the Army and Air Force.

It was also possible to get a blanket for the winter and a dental checkup, meet with the Veterans Association of Southern Nevada, have a free AIDS test and meet with prospective employers such as Sprint and Cox Communications.

There was also a makeshift court, where outstanding tickets, fines and warrants could be dealt with, and it had a long line, as well.

While parents went from area to area in the hall they could leave their children in a supervised play area that had toys, a big screen television and several adult volunteers to supervise.

The day was for more than just meeting the short-term needs of the homeless. Several agencies were there to assist people in finding affordable housing. One private organization, Real Properties Services, was trying to help get people into one of its nine low-income communities.

Real Properties has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs, United Way, YMCA and the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation to provide a variety of services for its communities.

The stand down was important because it brought together all of the services most homeless people need to one place, said Earl White, vice president of Real Properties. If it weren't for the one-day event, many people wouldn't know where to go to find unsubsidized affordable housing, he said.

Organizers expected about 3,000 people by the end of the day. The Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition estimates between 7,000 and 10,000 people are homeless in Clark County.