A Las Vegas strip club donated tents for homeless. But not everyone is happy about it
A Las Vegas strip club’s act of charity wasn’t universally appreciated.
A woman, who asked to remain anonymous, was driving in downtown Las Vegas with her children when she saw the tents being used by the homeless had Deja Vu Showgirls’ logo on them. She called them “disgusting” and “immoral,” according to KTNV.
A spokesperson for Deja Vu Showgirls responded to her complaint with a statement to KTNV, defending the club’s donation of clothing and tents and saying it was in response to the city recently passing an anti-camping ordinance.
“It is 100% true that we provide warm clothing and sleeping tents for the less fortunate,” the statement read. “This just seems like the right thing to do during the holidays. While some seem to think that the solution is a camping ban, we think that the solution is one that includes decency and kindness. We hope that others can show some humanity and do their share to take care of the most needy among us.”
The club later tweeted out a response to the mother interviewed in the KTNV story.
“It’s a sad day when a strip club shows more humanity than an angry mother,” the club wrote on its official Twitter page.
In November 2019, Las Vegas became the latest city to try to address its homeless population. The Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance making it illegal to camp on the streets when there are beds available at shelters, NBC News reported. People who violate the ordinance can be jailed for up to six months or fined up to $1,000.
The ban was criticized by some, who say that it makes homelessness a crime.
“There is very significant research and data that will confirm that public safety and criminal justice systems are the most expensive course of action for working with individuals affected by homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse,” said Brian Knudsen, a council member who voted against the ban, NBC reported.
Las Vegas ranked No. 7 on the list of cities with the highest homeless populations, according to a recent study.
The city reported 272 homeless people per 100,000 people, Fox5 reported.
More than 5,500 people in Las Vegas and the surrounding area live on the streets, according to another annual survey, The Guardian reported. In the last year, more than 14,000 people were homeless in Vegas at some point, officials said.