LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — The homeless crisis across the valley continues to be a disturbing trend as some in the central valley experience some of the worst conditions, such as living underground and along flood channels.
DJ, 30, grew up in Las Vegas and said he used to make money on the Strip making art on the pedestrian bridges, but with the most recent ordinance, he’s been banned.
“I used to do the palm leaf art, but then the cops were trying to arrest me for that, and I couldn’t sit on the bridge anymore,” he shared. “Keeping me from doing something productive.”
Over on Flamingo and Paradise is where Portland native, Dale, lives with his disabled mother. They were evicted from their apartment in Las Vegas and live in the tunnels.
“Everyone has different reasons for being out here and a lot of people start by choice and then they get stuck,” he shared.
“Getting out of homelessness is near impossible,” he added.
On Thursday, county volunteers finished its Homeless Point-in-Time Census. The census is aimed at identifying the number of unsheltered people in the region. While the numbers from that won’t be out for months, the act itself is a step in the right direction.