Homeless shelter restrictions killed

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

New rules governing homeless shelters in Las Vegas were pulled from consideration by the Planning Commission this week after shelters expressed concern that the regulations could eventually lead the city to shut them down.

The new regulations, which were to be heard by the planners on Thursday, would have defined such things as how close a shelter can be to a house, school or park -- 500 feet -- and require supervision in waiting areas and bathrooms.

They could have left three of four downtown shelters out of compliance with city codes, according to planning documents.

Bob Genzer, city planning director, said the proposed changes owed their origin to complaints received by the Neighborhood Services Department about a number of daytime shelters. He said he didn't know if the changes would affect existing shelters or rescue missions.

"(But) if it could be proven that they're doing something they're not properly licensed to do, the city could come in and say cease and desist," he said.

Sharon Segerblom, executive director for Neighborhood Services, said Monday the proposal had made it through the pipeline without her department giving it a thorough review. She said she was pulling the item for further study.

"When it's such an important change being discussed, we like to take our time looking things over," she said.

Genzer said that his department had begun drafting the changes four or five months ago and had sent a draft to all department heads -- including Segerblom.

"We were asked to put it on the agenda and now we're asked to take it off," he said.

The move came after several shelters and advocates cried foul over not being consulted about the rule change beforehand. They also said they were confused about what the new codes meant and how they would be enforced.

"They're imposing all this without asking for our input," said Brenda Dizon, executive director for the Shade Tree, a shelter for women and children. "Why wasn't it sent to those most affected?"

She said supervising areas not currently under watch would require hiring new staff, which would require additional funds.

"We're short of funds now," she said.

Charlie Desiderio, spokesman for the Salvation Army, one of the city's largest operations, echoed his colleague's concerns.

"We're a $14 million operation ... and that the city wouldn't discuss a very important document is quite surprising," he said.

Desiderio also wondered last week whether certain changes would be grandfathered in for existing shelters.

After calling the city's planning department on Monday, before Segerblom announced her decision, Desiderio said he was told that none of the major shelters would be affected by the changes -- that changes would be grandfathered.

Frank Richo, director of residential services for Catholic Charities, another big player in the downtown area where homeless shelters are concentrated, said he wasn't concerned by the proposed changes.

"These things seem like boilerplate regulations anyway," he said.

Brother David Buer, a Franciscan friar who directs the Poverello House, a place where the homeless can wash their clothes and get a meal, said he didn't know if his outfit, which is not licensed as a shelter or rescue mission, would be affected by the new codes.

Faced with a possibility that the city could move to shut the Poverello House down, Buer said he "would cross that bridge when we get there."

"If we have to fight this," he said, "we will."