Serving the Underprivileged

According to a study from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in January 2020, right before COVID-19 was declared a national emergency, there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in the United States. And things are only getting worse.

It is a tragic situation, which is also absurd if one considers that the U.S. is the richest country in the world, both per nominal and per capita gross domestic product. This absurdity is especially evident in Las Vegas, a city that is known for its bright lights, gaming, all-you-can-eat buffets, entertainment, and luxury. Over the years, though, Nevada has climbed to number 9 in the highest rates of homelessness in the United States.

Luckily, some new projects are being developed to offer affordable housing, which many advocates consider the only real solution to homelessness. Right in the heart of Las Vegas, a team of charities and devoted individuals is led by Valerio Zanoli, a filmmaker and real estate investor who created the project Helping Vegas (www.helping.vegas) and, since 2014, has housed hundreds of low-income families. 

Zanoli is a founding member of Nevada Housing Coalition, and a member or supporter of several other organizations, including National Coalition for the Homeless and Nevada Homeless Alliance. He was recognized by community leaders for his efforts in never turning anyone away, particularly individuals with criminal background, bad credit, or mental health issues. Salvation Army and U.S. Vets have been counting on Zanoli to house their most vulnerable and needy veterans, who would otherwise be on the streets.

Zanoli and his team are currently undertaking the renovation and expansion of 2 real estate properties that will provide affordable housing to 25 families per night. Built in the 1940s, the 2 buildings were licensed as rooming houses in the ‘70s and, thanks to their special use, they’ve been housing 18 families per night. 

Rooming houses are an important housing option, especially for low-income individuals. However, almost all the rooming houses in Las Vegas were either demolished or converted to single-family residences. 

Christine Hess, Executive Director of the Nevada Housing Coalition, expressed her support for the role of rooming houses to serve some of our most vulnerable population: “A rooming house is a dwelling with multiple bedrooms rented out individually, with shared bathrooms and kitchens. They are an important part of the affordable housing patchwork and often serve as the home before an individual must face homelessness, and they may also be the first step back to stability. The renovation and expansion of these two rooming houses is one example of an alternative solution that can impact multiple lives for years to come in Las Vegas.”

For many years, the 2 rooming houses helped the underserved population of Las Vegas: All the guests were ex-homeless people who were part of programs at Salvation Army and U.S. Vets, and most of them were senior citizens, veterans, and minorities. The guests could enjoy the privacy of their bedrooms while feeling part of a community and being reintegrated into society. They had the chance to have a place to call “home” and, above all, to have what is necessary to change their life and get back on their feet. 

Unfortunately, the 2 buildings were recently vacated and need major renovations: new electrical wiring and panels, new AC and heating units, new floors, new windows, new doors, new bathrooms, new stairs, demolition and rebuilding of some drywall, new stucco, new paint, etc. While the City of Las Vegas is not providing any financial assistance, everybody else feels the urge not only to renovate the 2 rooming houses, but also to expand them so they can help even more people in need. 

Zanoli and his team are determined to complete the renovations as soon as possible and increase the number of bedrooms that can be offered to the neediest members of the community. Since purchasing them a few years ago, Zanoli has made the 2 properties available to extremely low-income individuals and has been fighting to preserve them: “The greatest satisfaction is when I welcome someone to their new home, hand them the keys, and see their eyes light up with hope. I feel I’m having an impact and I’m changing someone’s life. It’s wonderful that I can house people who are too often forgotten and I still manage to pay the mortgages, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and repairs.”

Clark County Social Service is looking forward to using the 2 rooming houses for some of the people who need them the most. Tim Burch, Administrator of Human Services at the Clark County Department of Social Service, stated: “The lack of options for low-income families are making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to survive. So, Clark County welcomes with open arms anyone who is willing to house our most needy members of society, and it is eager to move people into these 2 rooming houses as soon as their renovation is completed.”  

With the housing market experiencing an unprecedented spike in demand, Zanoli knows very well that the road ahead will be full of obstacles: “I’ve already been turned down by several general contractors, who see this project as a waste of time and prefer to focus on new constructions that can make them more money with less effort. I don’t blame them, but I won’t stop. I’ll invest all my time and monetary resources in the renovation of these 2 rooming houses, because, in addition to what I’ve already been doing, I want to make sure that 25 more families have a place to call home, every night for years to come.”

The renovation of the 2 rooming houses is still in the early stages, but Zanoli is already developing more projects to provide the low-income community of Southern Nevada with much-needed affordable units. For instance, he is working with realtors, architects and general contractors to convert an old motel into long-term residences and build 2 communities of affordable single-family homes: “Before they passed away, my parents gave me everything they had and taught me to be the best person I can be. So, I want to make a difference, make them proud, and keep their memory alive.”  

Zanoli rightly emphasizes that “homelessness is a social problem that affects society as a whole. It is something that could happen to anyone. A recent survey shows that 59% of Americans are only 1 paycheck away from losing their home and ending up on the streets. We are all in this together. And, together, we need to climb out of homelessness – and not climb higher in the chart of the worst cities and states for homelessness.”