Editorial: Use comity in handling tough issue

Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 | 8:46 a.m.

It is a hopeful sign that the Clark County Commission today is weighing a proposal that would call on local governments in Southern Nevada to pitch in more money to help the homeless. Specifically, county government will consider Commissioner Erin Kenny's plan that the county and cities raise a total of $600,000 to open for nine months MASH Village's emergency shelter, which currently is closed.

In previous years a lack of coordination and harmony among local governments in Southern Nevada has hampered efforts to provide adequate resources to the homeless in the Las Vegas Valley. And lately the city of Las Vegas appears as if it wants as little to do with the homeless as possible. Recently the city of Las Vegas forced the homeless off property that they had been using for shelter, and Mayor Oscar Goodman suggested that the homeless be shipped off to a closed state prison in Jean, a proposal the mayor fortunately has since discarded.

It's critical that there be plenty of housing and job-training assistance. It's not just about money alone, though, it's also about using the funds in the most efficient way. The local governments need to listen to the nonprofit agencies that have helped the homeless, such as the Salvation Army, to make sure that they get the most bang for their buck.

What's worrisome is that the potential exists for the situation to get worse, not better, especially since there is a tendency among local governments to point fingers at each other in dealing with seemingly intractable issues. That is why it is crucial that the local governments work together in developing both a short-term and long-term strategy, allowing people to finally escape homelessness.