‘What’s your solution?’: Neighbors frustrated at the ‘epicenter’ of Las Vegas homeless crisis

Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom got an earful Wednesday night in a neighborhood east of the Strip from residents fed up living next to what Segerblom described as the epicenter of the county’s homelessness crisis.

“I’m here to listen. I’m here to take complaints,” Segerblom told a crowd of several dozen residents and property managers at the Flamingo Library. “I’m here to confess that I’ve screwed up.”

At issue is a surge in homeless camps and trespassing incidents near East Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway as the area’s homeless population exploded since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An interagency census of Southern Nevada’s homeless population in 2024 counted 7,906 people living on the street or staying in public shelters, a 20 percent overall increase from the previous year and the highest figure in a decade.

Among those who spoke Wednesday was Matthew Kailimai, who said the apartment complex he manages in the area has been targeted by squatters. Earlier Wednesday, Kailimai said, he’d entered a vacant unit to find a couple inside. They had broken a door to gain entry.

“What is your solution?” he asked Segerblom. “We need enforcement.”

Segerblom said repeatedly Wednesday night that the county is working with the Metropolitan Police Department and resource-outreach teams to clean up encampments and keep unauthorized people away. He said one of the points of Wednesday’s session was to bring those agencies together for the town hall.

“The truth is we we have to finally get our hands on this thing,” Segerblom said, “and we have the people in here that can do that.”

Searching for solutions

One new tool in addressing problems caused by homelessness is a camping ban the county implemented in February. It bans camping around trails, parks, underpasses, washes, tunnels and other public places the homeless community congregates or sleeps.

The law allows for jail sentences of up to 10 days for repeat offenders who refuse move or accept social services.

Attendees said that homeless people cleared from the area often return shortly after police officers leave.

“I feel your pain. I feel your frustration,” Segerblom said. “That’s not acceptable.”

The commissioner noted that a Metro captain and county code enforcement attended the session to hear out complaints and brainstorm solutions.

Metro Capt. Landon Reyes detailed the camping ban ordinance for the group and said he had been taking notes and understands their frustration.

“When I tell you something is going to get done, something’s going to get done,” said Reyes.

Louis Lacey, director of HELP of Southern Nevada’s homeless response teams, outlined resources offered to the homeless population.

While it typically takes time and patience to get someone to accept help, it’s doable, he said. And he would know, Lacey said about being formerly homeless himself.

Segerblom noted that an increase in homelessness is a national issue.

“Truthfully this problem in this neighborhood and all around didn’t just happen overnight, it’s happened over many years,” Segerblom said. “We have a country that chews people up and spits them out.”

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.