Influx of homeless encampments under political signages seen across Las Vegas valley

By Madison Kimbro

(KLAS) — Seeing political signage on almost every corner is nothing new during an election year, but what’s even more noticeable is the influx of unhoused people making shelter underneath.

“If candidates aren’t aware of the problem, then there it is, under your sign,” Las Vegas resident, Jeffrey Whitney told 8 News Now.

As homelessness continues to be a main concern across the valley, the unhoused are trying to find shelter any way they can, like 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.

Polk lives right across the way from 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 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, stating that there’s irony in the situation to which 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, doesn’t seem to be enough because I can’t walk through my neighborhood without seeing trash and human waste everywhere.”

8 News Now reached out to several candidates whose signs were tampered with. The candidate’s PR team shared that they contacted the company in charge of the signs about the issue and since then, many have been cleared out.