Homeless people living in Las Vegas tunnels

Beneath Las Vegas lies 600 miles of tunnels, originally built to handle flash floods. Now, the tunnels are home to about 1,500 homeless people who share the pitch-black place. In a city where the sun bakes people outside, the tunnel offers a reprieve. They also provide a convenient consequence to those living on the surface: Homeless people are out of sight, out of mind.

But Las Vegas officials recently swept Flamingo wash and adjacent tunnels near University of Nevada Las Vegas. According to news reports, it caused some tunnel dwellers to spill into the surrounding neighborhoods, outraging residents.

Brenda Wilda of the Paradise Palms neighborhood told the Las Vegas Sun homeless people have infiltrated the block. One man, she said, has stood in front of her house with his pants down multiple times. There also has been a rash of break-ins, Wilda said, including at her own house.

Wilda added that she calls Metro at least once a month to report a break-in that she says is because of homeless individuals staying nearby. “You clean out the wash, they come in my house. It’s a huge problem,” she told the Sun.

Other residents at a town hall covered by the Sun said they had seen an uptick of homeless people in their neighborhoods, too. They complained of slow response times from Metro, according to the newspaper, and some said that after repeated calls to report break-ins or squatting, they were told Metro didn’t have the time to respond.Las Vegas institutes camping ban

Las Vegas has an illegal camping ban that went into effect in February. A recent Supreme Court decision allows cities to sweep homeless encampments even if they don’t have a place for the displaced people to go.

Some Las Vegas residents, and likely politicians, too, aren’t too motivated to bring the tunnel people into the light. The tunnels are filled with food, waste, beds, clothes, pet cats, rats and more. To completely clear out 600 miles of tunnels would be a gargantuan task. But the real question is, where would all the people go?

Obviously, politicians don’t want outraged residents calling their offices. In the past officials have said closing off the tunnels completely is a bad idea because they do provide flood control during flash floods and need to work properly. But they also conveniently hide a sizable portion of Las Vegas’ homeless population.

The tunnel dwellers have been there for many years. Multiple reports say people have drowned in the tunnels during flash floods. Yet a concerted effort to remove people from the tunnels and restrict access hasn’t been made – until now.

Shine a Light illuminates hope for tunnel dwellers

There is a non-profit, Shine a Light, whose mission is to bring the tunnel dwellers back into fresh air. In the meantime, they make their lives safer and more comfortable. Its program is called Instant Placement with Access to Treatment and Housing, or IPATH.“We’re proud to venture into the depths and engage this underserved, hidden population on a dignified personal level,” the organization’s website reports. “Our intensive hands-on case management approach includes scholarships into treatment and transitional housing placement, job development, placement into independent living, vital document retrieval, and helping to knock down any other barriers that may stand in the way.” The organization also distributes supplies, including bottled water, food, socks, underwear, flashlights, headlamps, AA, and AAA batteries.

Shine a Light accepts financial and material donations. Donated items must be new or gently used, according to its website.

Will President Trump clean out the tunnels?

It remains to be seen whether President Trump will direct any funding to Las Vegas to rid the tunnels of the campers. He has spoken much about homelessness being a scourge and a menace on America’s streets, but he has said nothing about people living in tunnels. Out of sight, out of policy, one might argue. Las Vegas has allowed the tunnel dwellers to occupy the drainage system for years.

Trump, who owns Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, a non-gaming hotel, has lauded the Vegas hospitality industry. Many casinos on the strip sit directly on top of the tunnels. As people flush money down the toilet gambling above, primal human suffering takes place below. Trump's hotel is located off the strip.

Trump unveiled his plan to stop taxing workers on tips at a rally in Las Vegas. His messaging often frames Las Vegas as a symbol of American prosperity and working-class grit.

Tunnels? What tunnels?

The tunnels keep homelessness hidden from tourists and residents, allowing the city to maintain its image without confronting the crisis. The Point-in-Time count tallied 7,906 homeless people in Las Vegas in 2024. That number may include some tunnel residents, but many likely go uncounted, skewing public understanding of the issue and funding priorities. Officials respond to complaints from housed residents, who are none too happy about the tunnels being cleared. All of these factors combined makes one wonder if Las Vegas deliberately turns a blind eye to the tunnel people. Perhaps President Trump will save them.