Las Vegas is known for its glitz and glamour, but beneath the surface lies a hidden world that most people never see. Case manager Bryon Johnson is one of the few who ventures into the dark tunnels beneath the Las Vegas Strip to search for his homeless clients. Recently, he found Jay Flanders, a 49-year-old man living in the tunnels with sores covering his body from years of underground living.
Johnson’s job is to convince people like Flanders to come aboveground where they can receive medical care and treatment for their chronic illnesses and addiction issues. However, as housing costs continue to rise in Las Vegas, more and more people are seeking refuge in the tunnels. Drug use, particularly meth and opioids, is rampant underground, making it even more challenging for outreach workers to persuade people to leave.
The tunnels, which stretch for over 600 miles beneath the city, provide shelter from the extreme desert weather and offer a sense of community for those who live there. However, living in the tunnels also comes with risks, including exposure to dangerous drugs like “tranq” that can cause severe skin infections and other health issues.
Despite the dangers, many homeless individuals, like Flanders, feel safer underground than aboveground in a city where housing prices are skyrocketing. Outreach workers are doing their best to convince people to leave the tunnels and receive the care they need, but the challenges are immense.
As more people become displaced due to rising housing costs, the underground population in Las Vegas continues to grow. Some are locals who can no longer afford a place to live, while others are visitors who have lost everything at the casinos. Organizations like Shine a Light are working tirelessly to provide housing referrals, drug treatment services, and support for those living in the tunnels.
Life in the tunnels is not only challenging but also dangerous, especially during the monsoon season when flooding can be a significant threat. Homeless response organizations like Help of Southern Nevada work to get as many people as possible into shelters before the rains come, but not everyone is willing to leave their belongings behind.
Despite the risks and hardships of tunnel living, the underground community in Las Vegas continues to exist, struggling to survive in a city that is booming aboveground but leaving many behind. It’s a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address the root causes of homelessness and provide support for those who have fallen through the cracks.
