Homeless shelter to offer relief from searing heat

Friday, July 1, 2005 | 11:25 a.m.

As the Las Vegas Valley enters what promises to be the third straight day of temperatures above 100 degrees and with more triple-digit heat on the way, the region's municipal governments announced that day shelter will be made available for the homeless.

Starting today, Catholic Charities will open air-conditioned shelter in downtown Las Vegas from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shelter, which will remain open until Sept. 30, also has restrooms, showers and drinking water as well as a mid-morning meal.

The total cost -- shared by the valley's municipalities -- will be $77,808, said Paula Haynes-Green, regional homeless services coordinator. The plan was backed by the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, a group representing area governments.

The decision came out of the first-ever formal request sent to the valley's nonprofit agencies seeking proposals for summer day shelter, an outgrowth of attempts in the last year-plus to plan better for harsh weather when it comes to the homeless.

The request also resulted in funding a pilot project in Boulder City, which will include lodging at a local motel and one meal per day for two households of one to two people during the 90-day period. Emergency Aid of Boulder City Inc. got $5,500 for the project,

In the past, Haynes-Green said, summer day shelter has been organized on a more informal basis.

Since 2002, at least 13 homeless people have died at least in part due to the heat, according to coroner's records.

During that time, advocates have urged regional governments to develop a comprehensive plan for summer day shelter.

Haynes-Green said that this year's high temperatures -- with 100-degree days as early as May -- caught regional planners off-guard, and that next year a policy will be in place to base the funding of day shelter on temperatures, not on the date of July 1.

Today's forecast, according to the National Weather Service, calls for a high of 108 degrees, and 100-degree temperatures are expected for at least the next four days.