With over 13,000 homeless people Las Vegas has one of the largest populations of homeless in the United States. When we were at a previous church we ministered to the homeless with serving meals several times a year, and with a food pantry. Most (I say MOST and not all) of these poor souls are homeless because they want to be. Many are Viet Nam vets and/or drug addicts/alcoholics, and mentally ill. We would offer to find them temporary housing, and once it was so cold we offered to let them sleep at the church...but we had NO takers on either offer. Most do not want to live by 'the rules'....they like their freedom and just want an occasional hot meal or some food to take with them to have later.
I was reading an article on Yahoo News today about the Homeless and Foreclosures. Interesting article - it seems the homeless are taking advantage of the multitude of foreclosed homes, not just in Las Vegas but all across the country. It seems that foreclosed and empty homes are the new campgrounds for the homeless, it's a place giving a little warmth, protection from the hot/cold weather, and a roof over their heads. Scary thought if we are showing property and walk in on one of these 'camps'.
I currently have a listing that is vacant (not a foreclosure)...a neighbor called me to tell me the front door was left open. I went to check on it and although there was no sign of anyone living there it was obvious that someone (a homeless person?) had stayed in the place for a time. The toilets were full...the bathtubs had been used for ash trays....the heat was turned on high. My suspicion is someone came back more than once to sleep in the place. A screen was pried off the window, ant this must have been his/her point of entry daily. I normally check my listings, vacant or not, every 2-3 weeks, so it had not been that long since this person had been in the house. Check those vacant listings weekly whether they be foreclosures or vacant. Be careful when entering a vacant or foreclosed property.
Foreclosure and homeless data (SOURCES: National Coalition for the Homeless, RealtyTrac Inc., AP reporting)
- HOMELESS IN U.S.: 3.5 million any given year.
- HOMELESS ANY GIVEN NIGHT: 444,000.
- U.S. FORECLOSURES: 2.2 million filings last year.
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Mary - You be careful going back over there. I am sure all they want is a place to sleep but you never know, if they are off their meds what they might do.
Mary, very sad. I had this happen a few times on a listing, where a homeless person moved in "sort of". It is tough because you feel for them & I am just too nice. Be careful is right. Thank you for the reminder.
I do BPOs and usually get the mechanicals out of the way super early in the morning. When I enter I scream "GOOD MORNING, REALTOR HERE!" Never encountered anything bad but would love to hear some rustling if someone was visiting!
I haven't seen that happening here yet, but I'm expecting we may soon if is happening in other places, it is just a matter of time.