Meeting the Mole People of Las Vegas

Underneath the city of Las Vegas are hundreds of miles of disused tunnels. From sewers to service routes and abandoned mineshafts. What many don’t know about this subterranean network is that there exists a community of homeless people living down there.

The Mole People

The Shine a Light Foundation made it a goal to reach out to these disadvantaged people to try and help. In the vast majority of cases, addiction of some kind is the reason for the person ending up with this life.

Upon entering one of the tunnels, the charity workers were greeted by a recovering heroin addict who has lived below ground for nine years, and a military veteran confined to a wheelchair. A sad sight for those not used to such scenes.

 After some discussion, the group left to learn that they had come close to being shot by an inhabitant lurking in the shadows who didn’t want to be filmed.

Next they moved onto another tunnel inhabited by methamphetamine addicts. Surprisingly, the living space looked incredibly tidy and organised. A willing couple told their story of how they ended up living this way, right underneath the Caesar’s Palace Casino.

It’s shocking to think that this is happening in the world’s richest country. The Shine a Light Foundation is now doing all they can to give these people the resources they need to move onto a better life with some prospects.