Letter: Regional policies to help homeless are disgraceful

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.

Three years and three months ago, the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, largely composed of city and county elected officials, held a "summit" to begin addressing solutions to homelessness.

So what's happened since?

Mash Village, which had provided 250 family beds, was razed. The emergency tent shelter, along with its 250 regular beds, moved to San Diego. The Crisis Intervention Center, which provided comprehensive services to the homeless, was shuttered. Small charities, which provided housing and services, were forced out of business. The "God and Me Ministry," and now the Las Vegas City Mission, come to mind.

If their goal is to disperse the homeless and deny them services, elected officials should abandon such charades as summits and 10-year plans. Now is the time for citizens to ask Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilmen Gary Reese and Lawrence Weekly why it appears the plan all along has been to kick the homeless out of Ward 5. The three should be encouraged to honestly work for regional cooperation on homeless issues. Current policy toward the homeless is a disgrace from a humanitarian standpoint.

About 40 percent of our homeless population work at low-income jobs, but they are not receiving equal treatment as constituents. Also, the homeless here include about 2,400 veterans, who these elected officials forget when they praise the active members of the military and the reserve and National Guard troops.

FRANK PERNA

Editor's note: Frank Perna is an independent advocate for veterans and homeless people.