Letter: Politicians ignore homeless again

Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005 | 10:46 a.m.

There are approximately 2,400 military veterans among our homeless, as well as hundreds of children and youths on the street, along with their parents, who have inadequate or no shelter. Yet Las Vegas politicians razed MASH Village, which had 250 family beds and 150 unused beds, and gave away a tent large enough to shelter 250 people. The only conclusion to be drawn is that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and the City Council are attempting, in vain, to drive the homeless people out of the city under the guise of setting up a regional plan to provide them with minimal care.

There is no difference between the evacuees and our homeless people, and the local politicians should be ashamed of their action in diverting funds dedicated to our mentally ill homeless people and using them for hurricane relief. When the City Council made that decision, we discovered it was sitting on about $5 million in federal funds designated for housing low-income and homeless people.

Then there is the $1.5 million that Clark County and Southern Nevada Mental Health, a state agency, have been sitting on for over a year. The money was to be used to provide housing and case management for mentally ill homeless citizens.

Faith-based religious groups must now come forward to fill the void left by government.

Frank Perna Las Vegas Frank Perna is an independent advocate for veterans and homeless people.