LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police “Homeless Outreach Team” showed FOX5 their mission in action, as the Las Vegas Valley faces growing homeless encampments: helping the unhoused get shelter and resources.
The “HOT” team, founded in 2018, is made up of up to eight officers at any given time. The team, working across Las Vegas and Clark County, has made close to 50,000 “contacts” or visits to people on the streets; officers note that numerous individuals require multiple outreach visits before finally accepting services.
FOX5 followed the team as they went with HELP of Southern Nevada to offer services to a massive encampment off East Gowan Road and Nellis Boulevard. Social workers and officers warn people that county crews are planning a cleanup of the area.
“A lot of the time when we go out there, it’s about educating them…sometimes it takes 7, 8, 9 visits to the same individual to get them to accept services,” said Sgt. Matthew Kovacich of the LVMPD Behavioral Health Unit. “But we’ve seen it the same day,” he said.
Officers can offer someone a ride to an available and open bed. They can also direct them to various social services.
“Some people can get housed right away and some people unfortunately have to get on the housing list. But if they do come up on that housing list, my team specifically goes out to go look for them to say, ‘hey, you’re up,’” said Sgt. Kovacich.
In 2024, the HOT team has made more than 7,200 contacts across the Las Vegas Valley. 2,200 people have accepted services. More than 500 people are completely off the streets.
This past fall, the city of Las Vegas and Clark County strengthened their ordinances on sidewalk sleeping and homeless encampments. Punishment can include citation or arrest.
FOX5 recently interviewed LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill on the issue, and he told FOX5 that his department’s stance on the issue has not changed: arrest will always be a last resort, especially if someone needs social services.
“The last thing we want to do is just take people to jail: they get arrested, they’re released and then repeat. The overarching goal is to get them to help,” Sgt. Kovacich said.
Cities like Albuquerque and Columbus are having their police departments shadow the LVMPD HOT team.
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