Letter: Homeless situation still bleak as ever

Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 | 8:52 a.m.

I hope the optimistic attitude in the Sun's Dec. 26 editorial, "New hope for the homeless," is more realistic than my expectations.

We must understand that 250 family beds and 150 unused beds were lost to the homeless community when MASH Village was razed. Another 200 emergency shelter beds were lost when the Fertitta emergency shelter was turned into the community assistance center, which remained empty for a year and a half, depriving the homeless of winter and summer shelter. Also, the 250-bed emergency shelter tent was lost to San Diego when Father Joe Carroll left.

Where is the political will among the region's elected officials to spend their political capital to aid the homeless by raising public consciousness? This will lead to more donations, volunteerism and services.

When will HUD, in cooperation with government and private industry, build housing to benefit those at 25 percent of the median income. Where are the pro bono attorneys when smaller nonprofit groups are under siege, as are 15 in Las Vegas?

We must understand that we are not St. Paul, Minn.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; or San Francisco. We are the Las Vegas Valley, in which politicians have assaulted the homeless for the last four years. When I see the first public service announcements -- on public access channels 2 and 4 -- to raise awareness about social problems, including homelessness, I will become less pessimistic and then we'll see plans become reality.

Frank Perna

Las Vegas

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