A life slips through the system by Rhina Guidos, Outpost Contributor In this package: A generation lost   People paying their last respects placed a teddy bear, a twig cross and a can opener at the base of tree where 28-year-old Leslie Carter liked to sit. Carter was mentally ill. She also was homeless. Carter had been living in the restroom of Wingfield Park in Downtown Reno for18 months before someone murdered her. She died of a blow to the head. She had been involuntarily committed to an institution. But within a week after her release was found dead, face down on a bathroom floor by the Truckee River. Social worker Leigh Ann McGinnis tried to get Carter in for treatment, but Carter was reluctant. McGinnis said a system with not enough resources to house the mentally ill contributed to Carter's homeless situation and lead to her early death. Service organizations and agencies, like the Reno Sparks Gospel Mission work hard to keep homeless people from falling victim to the system. Photo by Art Pines Project Restart kept an eye on Carter, but Carter did not want to be helped. McGinnis said Carter associated Project Restart with her involuntary commital and became less trustful. She was unwilling to accept their help. On the day she was found dead, McGinnis and the policeman she was having lunch with, heard the call about the body found in the park, over the police radio. They immediately knew Carter was dead. Carter was one of the many homeless members of Downtown Reno. She was a distinct sight from the older homeless men and was often seen leaning against the closed Riverside Casino, next to the river, with suitcases and plastic bags. People who worked Downtown or lived close by knew her by sight. Some gave her books and doughnuts. Carter kept to herself and never bothered anyone. She went to St. Vincent's Dining Hall for lunch every day. "She was seriously ill," said Ray Trevino, who runs the soup kitchen. "But she kept to herself. I can't imagine why anyone would want to hurt that girl." Many people who knew her wonder the same thing. Carter was well-liked even though she hardly spoke to anyone. McGinnis and staff from Project Restart were surprised at the number of people who showed up at her memorial service. "We didn't know how many people she knew," said McGinnis. Senator Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, introduced Senate Bill 319 into legislation April 21. If it passes, the bill would appropiate millions of dollars to build more beds and pump money into programs that help the mentally ill homeless. More beds would be allotted to keep people like Carter off the street and out of the danger that accompanies thehomeless lifestlyle. "If Senator Townsend's bill had been in place, this wouldn't have happened," McGinnis said. copyright 11/15/97 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost   Related sites: Senator Randolph Townsend Senate Bill 319 Wingfield Park