Door may close on new halfway houses

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005 | 7:35 a.m.

Concerns that unauthorized halfway houses are springing up may lead Las Vegas to temporarily stop accepting new applications for halfway houses after today.

Halfway houses are facilities licensed to house, rehabilitate and provide job training for people who typically are on probation or parole and who have alcohol or drug abuse problems.

There is one application currently before the Las Vegas City Council, the first received by the city in more than two years. Councilman Lawrence Weekly said the issue is that illegal halfway houses are being run in the city. He wants staff members to study the issue and come back with an ordinance that addresses the problem.

"I am 100 percent supportive of this kind of help and everyone who needs this kind of help," Weekly said.

But he said several halfway houses have opened in recent years without receiving the necessary approval from the city.

Neighborhood Services Director Orlando Sanchez said Las Vegas has "closed a handful" of what appeared to be halfway houses in recent years. He did not have an exact number.

"A lot of halfway houses are in operation that we don't know about," Sanchez said.

While the City Council considers the ban, a request to reopen the former Clark Center building downtown as Fresh Start, a new halfway house for up to 100 former inmates and alcoholics, is making its way through the approval process.

Fresh Start, which would be among the largest halfway houses in the area, would not be affected by a moratorium because its application is already in, officials said.

Also, the location -- near First Street and Bridger Avenue and across from the Clark County Detention Center -- is considered a plus because it isn't a residential neighborhood and is close to many bus routes and services the residents may need.

Dan Kulin can be reached at (702) 259-8826 or at dan@lasvegassun.com.