Las Vegas hotels asked to help solve problems for the homeless

Angela Soo

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

Homeless advocates have turned to Las Vegas hotels to provide some immediate assistance to the homeless.

The Homeless Advocacy Task Force, which faxed letters to all the major hotels requesting help with the homeless problem, has gained the support of Park Place Entertainment. The company has already organized a charity campaign that encouraged hotel employees to donate any food, clothing or toiletry items to the homeless.

"We thought we'd address some immediate needs right now," Lorenzo Creighton, vice president of government and community affairs of Park Place, said. "We're committing to a charity campaign at our properties at the Flamingo, Paris and Bally's."

Patricia Price, a homeless advocate, said the hotels provided barrels for the employees to donate their items.

"We're hoping that other hotels will catch on and help with getting people off the streets," Price said.

But homeless advocates, although appreciative of the hotel's charity efforts, were really after some hard cash to reopen MASH Village's emergency shelter.

MASH Village needed $500,000 by Wednesday to reopen its emergency shelter by Sept. 1. The money would allow the shelter to operate its tent for nine months and provide immediate relief to many of the homeless who were affected by Catholic Charities closing its 175-bed emergency shelter for renovation in March and MASH Village closing its 250-bed winter shelter in April.

Creighton said Park Place Entertainment has not made any commitment to money, but to only run a campaign for food, clothing and toiletries.

Homeless advocates fear that the longer it takes to raise the half-million dollars for MASH Village, the longer the shelter will remain closed.

"Any delay that we have now may delay the opening," David Buer, who is also a task force member, said. "We have to try and meet the county's challenge of raising the money."

The Clark County Commission approved a $563,000 grant earlier this month that challenged the county and cities within the county to each share the responsibility of reopening the emergency shelter.

Commissioner Erin Kenny suggested that each jurisdiction contribute an amount proportional to the number of homeless in that area.

The county would contribute $230,809, Las Vegas would portion out $191,403, Henderson would allocate $78,813, North Las Vegas, $50,666, and Boulder City and Mesquite would each contribute $5,629.

Buer said the task force has not had much luck in gaining support from various City Council members, which is why it is turning to the community and private sector for help.