Sin City, an oasis of endless opportunities for debauchery in the midst of a harsh, inhospitable desert landscape devoid of hydration or comforts. For all the fun and enjoyment one can have while vacationing in the glittering casinos, there is more to the city than the gaudy glimmering front portrayed for the world stage. When your luck runs out and there's nowhere else to turn, many people find themselves adrift, wandering the scalding hot, sandy streets and alleys for any meager measure of respite they can eke out for themselves. Las Vegas is a city built for the winners, after all, with luxurious marble and gold-studded suites larger than most middle-class homes, and expansive buffet tables groaning under opulent spreads with caviar and import delights. The idea of a social safety net, while mandated to some degree by the federal government, is not something that latched on especially well in this city. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Las Vegas ranks as one of the highest populations of people without homes despite being one of the country's smaller cities and things aren't looking to get much better as the population grows. There are homeless shelters, a 24/7 open courtyard with port-a-potties, and food banks, but they're often full up or devoid of supplies before the end of the day, and the local government isn't overly concerned with spending money on helping the unfortunate when there are literal fortunes to be made by catering to the rich passing through on vacation.
This is not to say that there aren't people with good hearts living in the city of Las Vegas! There are truly some incredibly generous, loving souls that do their best to help their community and fellow human, like the Critical Care Comics group, among many many others. It's just that, when it comes to the focus of government spending, you're unlikely to find it going back into the local communities. Vegas thrives by appealing to and attracting visitors from elsewhere, bringing their tourist money to over-indulge and get away from it all, and the locals are more a necessary cog in the machine, replaceable pawns. Yeah, you need a local population to operate as staff for the many different restaurants and casinos, but they don't need to be especially well educated or well-off. Given as much, it doesn't take much for the rug to come out from under many of the city's working population, and with the cost of living going up while pay remains stagnant, where do they go from there? It doesn't take a genius with odds to see that things are a bit bleak.
I don't have the answers, I'm afraid. What I do know is that without sufficient awareness, things won't improve. Knowledge is power, isn't it? If you want to help, you can make a donation to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, or look into other options.
