Bad to worse: Economic downturn hits homeless hard

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

The 150 homeless men, women and children who have slept on the sidewalk in front of the MASH Village shelter since September are now making their homes just across the street, in front of an auto parts store that is no longer open for business.

But it's likely they'll soon have to move again. MASH Village spokeswoman Hannah Johnston said that a new owner will be taking over the property on which the old parts store sits.

Johnston said the shelter's administration asked the homeless to move for their own safety -- especially after a homeless man was run over and killed last weekend, the second traffic death in front of the shelter this year.

But the move is just another example of the increasing problems facing the Las Vegas area's estimated 10,000 homeless men and women. Because of the economic slowdown, the homeless are growing in numbers and are faced with fewer services and fewer opportunities for work.

"None of us who work with the homeless have ever seen things as bad as they are now," Johnston said. "It looks like a refugee camp out there on the streets."

Last week Brother David Beur, a Franciscan monk who provides meals and other services to the homeless at Poverello House, counted 157 homeless in front of MASH Village on Main Street near Owen Street. A month ago, before the Salvation Army closed one of its shelters, there would have been 100, he said.

In addition to the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities closed one of its shelters for renovation in March.

In April, MASH Village closed its winter tent. Efforts to reopen it in October instead of December failed due to lack of funding.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas and Clark County officials say solutions for the growing number of homeless are on hold until Oct. 24, when the findings of a recent summit of representatives from public and private agencies will be released.

"We're basically awaiting this report for some direction and maintaining the status quo in the meantime," said Bill Arent, who coordinates the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition's homeless task force.

Gus Ramos, deputy executive director of the Clark County Housing Authority, also took part in the summit, along with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, North Las Vegas and Henderson city council members, and Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny. He said that the report will be the first attempt at creating a regional solution to the homeless problem.

"Public and private agencies have always worked in isolation," Ramos said.

"Our hope is that we can develop a comprehensive plan with public input, and that the political leadership exists to put it in action -- including the funding."

At Poverello House one morning last week, finding jobs was the topic of conversation among the 20 or so men washing clothes and waiting for lunch.

Bernie Hoppenyan, 57, sat shirtless in the sun while his shirt and socks were cleaned.

Since Sept. 13, Hoppenyan hasn't been getting much work. Most of the jobs he gets are tied to conventions, and the temporary agency he uses told him they are getting more event cancellations since Sept. 11.

"I used to be able to pay $5 a night to sleep at St. Vincent's shelter, but now I'm on the sidewalk in front of MASH Village. I just wish they could open up their tent for us to stay there."

Hoppenyan has been homeless for a year and a half, since he lost his job at a printing shop. He said he's seeing more families on the streets in recent weeks.

Ruth Bruland, executive director for MASH Village, said that she is getting more calls from families asking about free medical services and temporary housing.

"These people are a step away from being homeless, and I fear that we will be seeing more homeless families in the months to come." she said.

Other homeless men at Poverello House spoke of trouble finding construction, restaurant and office work.

Alan Locke, 52, said he used to work in word processing but developed an injury in one hand that makes it hard for him to use a keyboard. He's looking for jobs washing dishes or in sales.

Locke came to Las Vegas four years ago from California when he read that it was the fastest-growing city in the nation. "I thought, things have got to be good there," he said.

Unfortunately, he brought a gambling problem with him. He lost $3,000 his first day. "I found St. Vincent's the next day, and have been homeless since," he said.

Now he sleeps in a field in Henderson with about 200 other people, mostly men. He says he feels safer there than in shelters like the Salvation Army. "Fights break out all the time there, with people drunk or on drugs. You can bet someone is going to steal your shoes."

He also said that finding a job is difficult without a place to shower and shave, as well as receive phone messages. The Poverello House lets the men bathe and use the phone -- but only one day a week. "Otherwise, I wash up in the bathroom at the library, Wendy's, or a casino, and do the best I can."

The total number of homeless is unknown. A 1999 University of Nevada, Las Vegas study reported there were 6,700 in the valley. Shelter officials say this is probably low, putting the total closer to 10,000.

Bruland said that helping the homeless is difficult even in the best of times because they are a diverse population with a range of problems.

"None of these needs are met fully. We've grown so much as a city in recent years, but funding hasn't kept pace with the problems a big city has."

The goal is getting the homeless into housing, but most resources go toward getting them a place to eat or spend the night -- especially now, as the number of homeless goes up and the temperatures go down, Bruland said.

Ramos, who also chairs the Homeless Coalition, a group of public and private agencies that work with the homeless, said getting the homeless from the streets to permanent housing is complicated by a shrinking supply of affordable housing in the valley.

"Only two years ago, I saw a 30 to 40 percent turnover rate in public housing, where people would move on to private housing. Now it's down to 25 percent -- more people are seeing less options."

Ramos said that as many as 4,000 are on waiting lists for public housing in Southern Nevada. Some of these people are either in shelters or living with family or friends.

The county has lowered rents for 212 residents in housing authority programs since Sept. 11 to prevent increased homelessness.

"We expect these numbers to go up in the coming weeks, as we are steadily receiving requests for help," Ramos said.

In the meantime, many on the streets wait for the tent at MASH Village, a job, or both.

"The streets will turn a good man into an animal," Cisco King, also homeless, said at Poverello House.

"I don't beg for help, I'm just asking for a job."