Put Homeless in Vegas Hotels during Coronavirus Shutdown? No. Here’s Why
By Richard N. Velotta | Las Vegas Review-Journal

April 4, 2020 | Should Las Vegas resort operators grant the wishes of advocates who are suggesting that the homeless be sheltered in some of the city’s nearly 150,000 vacant hotel rooms during the coronavirus crisis?

While it may seem insensitive to the plight of the homeless, resort operators should politely, but firmly, say no. Here’s why.

The companies that have invested billions of dollars to make Las Vegas the most entertaining and compelling resort destination on Earth must protect that investment. They should continue to do what they’re doing: protect the interests of their employees, donate money and other resources to organizations within the community run by professionals on the ground and plan for the eventual return of business sometime after April 30 — and prepare for the next disaster.

Homeless people settle in for the night with social distancing at the temporary shelter in the upper parking lot at the Cashman Center due to the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday, March 29, 2020 in Las Vegas. Men are on one side and women on the other. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Resorts were dragged into this scenario by well-meaning but misguided advocates as a result of the poor optics of an emergency sheltering situation in Las Vegas.

Last month, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada was forced to close its 516-bed shelter when it was discovered that a homeless man and a shelter employee had tested positive for COVID-19.

Suddenly, those normally sheltered by Catholic Charities had nowhere to go. Clark County and the city of Las Vegas quickly mapped out a plan to provide space in the Cashman Center parking lot for people to camp out. In an effort to provide a visualization for social distancing, gridded boxes designed to keep the sheltered 6 feet apart were drawn on the pavement.

Organizers actually tried to provide padded carpeting atop the pavement, but that was deemed problematic because the carpeting couldn’t be adequately cleaned in time.

Meanwhile, the county and the city worked to build a covered isolation facility, with the county pitching in $6 million to build, equip and staff it.

But people around the world saw images of the homeless camped out on the asphalt while vacant hotels, ordered closed by Gov. Steve Sisolak, stood nearby. As the calendar turned to April, social media criticism ensued.