New homeless facility: Relief from the streets

Although the Donald W. Reynolds St. Vincent's Plaza resembles a Spanish-mission in design, its true hallmark may be the different levels of service it provides.

Located on Las Vegas Boulevard near Cashman Center, the renovated facility, which originally opened at the site in 1985, serves as many as 1,000 homeless men each day by providing services that range from bringing them off the streets to helping them become self-sufficient with full-time jobs.

The plaza's gateway entrance on Main Street was intended to be symbolic, according to Jeff Roberts, owner and manager of Lucchesi Galati Architects, designer of the complex which is operated by Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

"... It symbolizes a bridge," Roberts said. "A bridge from homelessness to independency."

The complex includes an 8,000-square-foot, 164-bed overnight shelter; a college-style dining room/kitchen; a building for immigration services, social services, and migration and refugee services; and the 120-unit St. Vincent Help Apartments, which provides low-cost housing.

Perhaps the most significant edifice is the two-story residential work program building. At 100,000 square feet, the structure is home to the Alpha Program, which offers room and board to individuals and is divided into five "phases."

People in the early phases receive basics, such as a bed, meals and shower privileges, all in exchange for a small fee or doing on-site work at the facility, and they are required to search for employment while they stay. They receive more private accommodations in the later phases, when they find full-time jobs. The final goal is for participants to become independent.

To emphasize the approach, the saying "The Dignity Within" is posted on walls throughout the building.

Roberts and his associate, Craig Galati, began master planning the facility in 1995, conferring with then-Bishop Daniel F. Walsh of the Diocese of Las Vegas.

"(Walsh) really felt strongly that the way to provide dignity was to re-create the architectural style of a mission," Galati said. "He felt it would be beneficial to the healing process. So, we were directed to do a mission-style design -- courtyards and outdoor spaces, and then with the tile and arches."

James Koeppen, a case manager in the residential services division, said the complex is an aesthetic enhancement to the neighborhood.

"If I were somebody who ended up in crisis and ended up in here, I would be rather impressed, because for starters, everything here is pretty much new," Koeppen said. "It's well-kept, the entire property is clean. If you had come in here looking for a shelter, you would not picture this, in my opinion."

Koeppen is a firm believer in the Alpha Program. In 1996, he lost his job and, subsequently, his apartment.

"The people who work here are all very good about steering you in the right direction on what you can do to help yourself," he said. "That's exactly what's made the program work for me ... I needed a place to go because I was going to be homeless. This is where I came."

Robert Meecham entered the program last October. He had to perform 36 hours of on-site "house duties" to earn his room and board. Today, Meecham works full-time for a security company, and pays the center 20 percent of his gross income for room and board.

"I feel that it's an excellent program; they don't ask much. You do your share and follow their simple rules," Meecham said. "These buildings are relatively new, as opposed to the old system where they had the older buildings. These are a lot more spacious, and they can accommodate a lot more people without being crowded. I feel very fortunate to come in at this time and be allowed to partake in this facility and the programs that they offer."

The dining room/kitchen and shelter were completed first, each becoming operational in 1998, while the St. Vincent Help Apartments opened in 1999. The work program building was finished last September at a cost of $12 million, while the shelter cost an estimated $500,000 to build.

The dining room serves an average of 1,600 meals daily, while the residential work program averages 400 participants. The overnight shelter, including the "overflow" building, houses about 250 people each night.

Funding for the project was provided by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation; Lied Foundation; and Frank and Vicky Fertitta, owners of Station Casinos.

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