Homeless residents of the Las Vegas valley have found a new shelter: campaign signs.
“If candidates aren’t aware of the problem, then there it is, under your sign,” Las Vegas resident Jeffrey Whitney told NewsNation local affiliate KLAS.
As homelessness continues to be a main concern across the region, the unhoused are trying to find shelter any way they can. Recently, some have been setting up camp underneath political signs, which is hard to miss as people drive and walk by.
“I’ve seen people coming in and out. They might be cooking inside of there, and they are definitely sleeping underneath those wooden signs,” Ronald Polk said.
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Influx of homeless encampments under political signages seen across Las Vegas valley (KLAS) -
Influx of homeless encampments under political signages seen across Las Vegas valley (KLAS) -
Influx of homeless encampments under political signages seen across Las Vegas valley (KLAS) -
Influx of homeless encampments under political signages seen across Las Vegas valley (KLAS)
Polk lives right across from some of these signs on Bonanza Road and Rancho Drive, and said he has seen an influx of homeless move in.
“I’ve seen them cover both ends of the (sign) pyramid in plastic sheets and some have mattresses in there. This has been going on for months now,” Polk added.
Jeffrey Whitney, who lives a couple of miles away, couldn’t help but notice while he stopped for gas. He sees the irony in the situation, believing the City of Las Vegas needs to do more.
“Now that I see it, it’s symbolic of the homeless problem we have here, that they are camping under candidates’ signs,” Whitney shared. “Whatever the city of Las Vegas is doing about it, [it] doesn’t seem to be enough because I can’t walk through my neighborhood without seeing trash and human waste everywhere.”
KLAS reached out to several candidates whose signs were tampered with. One candidate’s PR team said that they contacted the company in charge of the signs about the issue, and since then, many have been cleared out.