Monday, March 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Las Vegas soup kitchens and homeless shelters are busier than usual, but the dire predictions that accompanied last year's historic overhaul of the welfare system have yet to materialize.
Only a small number of the 3,000 disabled children, immigrants, drug addicts and alcoholics -- among the first targeted for removal in Nevada -- have sought assistance, shelter officials said.
Just 10 percent of that group has asked for help from the county welfare office, said Clark County Social Services Director Verlia Davis.
Social workers and homeless advocates said the large numbers they fed, clothed and housed from Thanksgiving to New Year's have not dropped as they have in past years. But the demands are less than was expected, many said. The main reason given for the slight increase: time.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, passed with the promise to "end welfare as we know it," is in its third month. Single, able-bodied people must work to receive food stamps and others are no longer are eligible for Supplemental Security Income, part of the Social Security Administration.
"The drug addicts should be off the rolls at this point and time," said Barbara Salzman, district manager of the Las Vegas Social Security office. "For the children and the immigrants, we're just beginning."
Letters began going out last month to families of disabled children and immigrants. Depending on individual circumstance, the letters either inform people that their monthly benefit checks (averaging about $500) will be stopped or the letters ask the person to provide proof of disability or citizenship.
"This is a very politically sensitive issue, dealing with the children ... (and) elderly immigrants," Salzman said. "We don't want to cut off the wrong (people)."
Children and immigrants ultimately found to be ineligible for federal benefits will be removed from SSI rolls in July and August, Salzman said.
Also this month, state welfare agents will began reviewing the list of food stamp recipients with plans to verify employment and other eligibility requirements, a spokeswoman said.
Overall, the impacts of the welfare changes are occurring gradually and social workers and advocates are sticking to their predictions, pointing to growing food lines and fuller shelters.
"In the long run we expect to see an increase, particularly in the number of single women," said Brenda Dizon, director of Shade Tree, a shelter for women and children. "I don't think we have had a long period of time to assess the impact.
Four months ago, Catholic Charities, which runs St. Vincent Shelter and Dining Room, served 75 families a day. Now it helps 100, Haisan said.
"The lines are longer. We're feeding more," she said.
The number of people the Salvation Army feeds each month almost doubled, from 250 to 400 in two months, Homeless Services Administrator Duane Sonnenberg said.
"The homeless are not unintelligent and they don't like to waste their time," Sonnenberg said. "If these people came in (to county welfare), what would they be eligible for? They will go where they can receive the most immediate help -- the shelters and private nonprofits."
Last year's legislation ended the 61-year-old federal welfare guarantee of cash assistance to every poor family with children. Now the federal government gives annual cash grants to the states, which are required to design their own welfare programs within broad federal guidelines.
The legislation created a first-ever time limit on cash assistance. Parents are required to work within two years of applying for welfare and able-bodied single people must work 20 hours a week or be in a work program.
"I feel nervous about my situation because of my kids," said homeless mother Cheryl Burnette at the Salvation Army complex on West Owens Avenue. "I know I'm not supposed to have my kids sleeping on the street, so I'm in a shelter."
Burnette kept an eye on her energetic 2-year-old daughter, Cheyenne, while her sister watched the 21-year-old mom's twin 9-month-old sons.
"I'm a little bit upset (over the reduction in welfare assistance)," said Burnette's sister, Susan Jankovsky. "But it's helping us get back up on our feet. We can't depend on others."
Besides time, another reason given for the welfare legislation's minimal impact is people's survival instincts. Homeless advocates suggest that families have had time to prepare for the loss in benefits.
"People have their defense mechanisms and their survival instincts up," said Kathryn Haisan of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. "It may take a few months before the help from friends and family is depleted. Right now, I think they're on a make-due scramble and they haven't hit bottom."
Homeless men like Joe Cannon and Ervin Dixon said they have never sought welfare, viewing it as a weakness.
"People get too comfortable and don't do anything," said Dixon, a 42-year-old security guard who left Chicago two months ago but has yet to find steady work.
"I think (the welfare legislation) is the best thing in the world," said Cannon, a cowboy who wintered in Las Vegas and plans to return to Montana in May. "You see I don't take drugs and I don't drink. They put them own selves in that position. I'm almost 52 years old and I'm not dependent on anything."
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