Las Vegas NowLocal Group Helping Homeless Vets
Many times though, the tunnels are a road to nowhere.
Most days, it happens just like this -- help is offered, but not taken.Steve doesn't want to use his last name but says a 20 foot section of flood channel under I-15 is home for he and his girlfriend, "Complete with a bed and a couch."
Steve and Deon Derby have met here before. Deon walks these tunnels every week, looking to serve those who have served their country and have now fallen on hard times.
"That's why we come down here, to give them that awareness to see if they even know where the shelters are, to point them in the right direction," he said.
Deon works for U.S. Vets, a non-profit that provides food, shelter and classes to vets helping them get back on their feet.
Many times though, the tunnels are a road to nowhere.
"A lot of times, it's just coming back, trying to build a rapport with them, having them get to know me because they're turned off by a lot of these agencies."
On this day, Deon walked the tunnels for hours. His search came up empty at first, but then he headed to the I-15 and Spring Mountain entrance ramp, just blocks from the Strip's ritziest resorts.
This time Deon finds what he's looking for, "Can I leave you my card if you change your mind?"
Most days, it happens just like this -- help is offered, but not taken. Deon has been offering a helping hand for five years and despite being turned down a lot of the time he says he won't give up.
"It's very rewarding to see guys that have been homeless for years finally make that phone call, ‘Deon, come get me, I'm ready.' That's what keeps me doing what I do," he said.
For Deon, persistence pays off once in awhile and he's able to turn a no into a yes, "Come on over man, I can get you set up in our work force program. You'll have access to computers, we can help you submit resumes online, get you clothes to go on interviews."
It's a small victory for Deon, but he'll take them how ever he can get them. When he goes home he knows one more vet if off Las Vegas' streets and headed toward a better tomorrow.
Many of the people U.S. Vets has rescued from homelessness now live at the group's headquarters at Las Vegas Boulevard and Bonanza.
Some take classes, others now have jobs. Some of them even try to repay the work Deon has done by coming down to the same tunnels looking to save a life.
