Homeless camps frustrate mayor

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Dec. 21, 2001 | 9:06 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman hopes that a group of service providers can help him solve the problem of men and women living on the streets of downtown, only a few yards from a homeless shelter.

Goodman on Thursday met with local homeless providers, including MASH Village, Catholic Charities and Shade Tree. The mayor discussed his frustration with the situation across the street from MASH Village, where homeless people have set up camp.

Since November, when MASH Village's winter shelter opened, a group of homeless people has set up cardboard boxes and tents in an area across from the facility on Main Street. Months prior, the city swept through an area behind the center near railroad tracks dubbed "Tent City," where more than 100 men were sleeping.

Goodman recently visited the area and was told by those living on the streets that they did not want to comply with the shelters' rules and preferred living outside.

"I am not going to allow that condition to continue to exist," Goodman said.

Although the group of homeless providers discussed ideas as to how to help the situation, Goodman said they will meet again early next year to find a solution.

In the meantime, Goodman during his weekly press conference Thursday announced that Helix Electric had become the first company to contribute money to a private trust fund, which would be used to assist the homeless.

Victor Fuchs, president of the Las Vegas office of Helix Electric, donated $7,000 that had been set aside for his company Christmas party. Fuchs, who earmarked the money for displaced workers, said he hoped the donation would encourage other companies to contribute money to the fund.

The trust fund, set up by the city in October, consists of $100,000 in federal money toward the creation of a single funding mechanism for homeless services while at the same time avoiding the duplication of services.

The idea of creating a centralized, regional body to channel funds for the homeless was suggested in a report presented Oct. 24 to the homeless task force, a committee of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition.