Barry

Barry has lived in a tunnel underneath Las Vegas for two months. The tunnels are massive storm drains running under the city. luckily, Barry has yet to experience a rainfall, but his bed and everything else are propped up several feet off the ground just in case.

It's hard to say how many people live in the storm tunnels beneath the neon. In a way it's safer than living out in the extreme heat, yet in another it's like living in a weird science fiction movie. Dark, dirty and completely different than the 'normal' world. I've been to lots of places where homeless people live, and going into the tunnels was a very surreal experience.

Like many homeless people, Barry is caught in the madness of bureaucracy. Because he has been to prison many Nevada social services wont help. And because he has only lived homeless for two months he is disqualified from others. Of course, finding work is near impossible.

That does not stop him from having dreams. He wants to go to culinary arts school. He wants to better his life. He wants to get out of the dark tunnels.




Special thanks to Matthew O'Brien [http://www.beneaththeneon.com]

// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv

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Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• homeless
• vegas
• tunnels
• invisiblepeople tv
• invisible people
• las vegas
• matthew o brien

[elacdude]

UPDATE ABOUT BARRY: I live in Las Vegas and walk around in the storm drains often, they are fun to explore. I met Barry last week and he is still there. It's been 6 months now and he's still living there. His camp now has a full size mattress and a futon. He took me on a 2 hour tour of his tunnel. He still dumpster dives. When I was with him, he found a working digital camera that he plans to pawn. He's doing ok but sometimes he has bad days. He tells me HELP might have a job for him soon

[ruelruelan]

I'm just surprised that someone has taken an interest telling this story. I feel for the homeless as I too have been there myself. People need to understand that people on the street are survivors. They may not be as cool, clean or nice to look at. They are however human beings. Though they may live underground, they are not a part of the rat race that everyone else above them is.

[thebluestofpeas]

@Joeevision Many on the streets have already done that, been injured and then thrown to the side by the gov't.

[Joeevision]

I never hear anyone saying anything about joining the millitary.

[b262222]

is there a way so that i can help those people? if so please tell me what i can do and i'll do. i live a bit far in Greece but that's ok.

thank you

[CreatureLikeGod]

what a weirdo haha

[echelonexcursions]

as long as he gets his dose of sun, eats a varied diet and drinks clean water he should thrive! humans are adaptive. i wish him well.

[elacdude]

oh and he has a full grown beard now

[WarriorOfTheBlackSun]

If you keep an eye out alotta stores pretty much all stores throw out fresh stuff, I am not saying all stuff they throw out is fresh or good of course. It makes me sick all the starving in the world, because it is NOT because of food shortages. It is because of wastefullness & gluttony. Look & observe when you go to any resturaunt how much is taken that is not needed, how much is wasted & how much is thrown out because "I don't like how it tastes." Only take what you need.

[crazylacey1616]

Man I feel sorry for this guy.