Tickets issued for opening of shelter

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

For the first time in recent memory, the opening of the MASH Village winter tent did not play to a full house.

Ninety minutes after this morning's 8 a.m. opening, there were still 12 unclaimed tickets. The tickets are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis and enable the bearers to reserve a spot all winter in the tent.

Gerald Zundell, MASH Village chief of security, said, "This is the first time we've ever still had tickets at this hour. Last year I gave them out in 20 minutes."

A total of 250 tickets were available.

Ruth Bruland, MASH Village executive director, offered a possible explanation.

"This is happening because these people are not going to die in the streets yet, and it's the extremes that make them come in.

"Many of them don't want to comply with the rules."

The tent, at Owens Avenue and Main Street near downtown Las Vegas, has been the subject of controversy in recent months. The homeless services agency had sought $51,000 from the city of Las Vegas to open it earlier than Dec. 15.

But City Council delayed a decision on the request, as various council members questioned whether opening the tent would help solve the homeless problem.

Meanwhile, up to 150 men, women and children camped out on the shelter's sidewalk during September and part of October. On Oct 15, the agency asked the homeless to move along, claiming their safety was in jeopardy. They did move, but only across the street.

The city eventually approved funding to allow for today's opening.

At 2 p.m. today, the ticket holders were to be interviewed, to determine their employment histories, education level, substance abuse problems or other causes of their homelessness.

"House" rules were to be explained, including two bags per person to store personal items,

The city of Las Vegas has issued a permit, allowing the tent to stay open until April 15. Homeless advocates say they may ask the city to extend the permit to June.

One of the ticket holders this morning, Ken Maxim, 52, said he hopes his situation will soon improve. He said he had worked full time for a cleaning company but was cut back to part time after the attacks. The reduction in his income, plus a gambling problem, rendered him homeless, he said.

"This Sept. 11 thing has hurt everybody," Maxim said. "I hope I can get some more work and get back up on my feet."