The economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic has left Las Vegas's economy, made up largely of leisure and hospitality, one of the hardest hit in the nation directly impacting Las Vegas residents. In October, the state had a joblessness rate almost double the national average. A recent study found 17 percent of Nevada families with children in the household didn’t have enough to eat. More than 15 percent of Nevada renters are behind on their rent payments. This series illustrates the widespread challenges residents are facing while elegizing the opportunities Las Vegas provided.
Valicia and Jovaun Anderson pictured with their daughter Nylah at their home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Anderson was laid off from his job at a restaurant inside the Rio hotel and casino, he had worked there since 2016. When Nylah was 6 she was diagnosed with digestive issues and Ms. Anderson left her job to care for her full-time. A delay in Mr. Anderson’s unemployment benefits left the family without income, falling behind on rent, unable to afford the copay for Nylah's medicine that keeps her from vomiting. “I feel like I can live anywhere,” Ms. Anderson said. “I’m sure my husband feels the same way. Like we can go sleep in a car, in a parking lot. But I can’t have that for my daughter. She has to have food, medicine and a roof over her head at all times. So my fight, my battle is for her.
Bartenders Carol Vigliaroll and boyfriend Mike Thompson pictured outside their apartment in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Thompson, who has been in the industry for 27 years, is now unemployed. Ms. Vigliaroll was also laid off from her two bartending jobs. "It's been pretty much a foolproof gig my whole life...now all of a sudden this fool proof gig is no longer foolproof,” Thompson said. The couple had hopes of buying a house soon, but now rely on that savings, supplemented by their unemployment benefits.
Elizabeth Mora is pictured in the neighborhood of the home of a friend she is staying with in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ms. Mora moved to Las Vegas for a job with MGM, and two days into working was furloughed. Staying at an MGM property was part of her relocation package and when they shuttered as well she was without a home in a city she’s lived in for a matter of days. “I picked up my entire life and I moved here, not only physically but emotionally,” she said. “I’ve never felt the sense of uncertainty like I do now.’” She expressed concern and optimism but ultimately wants to go back to work at MGM and make Las Vegas her home. (IMAGE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Single mother Maria Guerrero is pictured in the doorway of what she refers to as her dream home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ms. Guerrero lost her job at an airline caterer and her unemployment benefits were delayed for two months. She and her teenage daughter moved to Las Vegas after being priced out of California's housing market, and her work offering to relocate her. She still worries about losing her home. “You get anxiety, you get depression, you don’t sleep at night, thinking what if they kick me out?” Ms. Guerrero said. (IMAGE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Jevon Johnson puts the last of his belongings in his car before shipping them to a family member's home on the east coast, seen outside his apartment. Mr. Johnson, like many Las Vegas transplants, moved to the city for an opportunity; a job as a flight attendant with Allegiant. It was his first job making more than $10 an hour. Prior to the pandemic he was terminated from the position, he started a new job with Alaska Airlines days before the city shut down. He was never called back to work. After months without income, still waiting on unemployment benefits, he now finds himself in debt, behind on rent and bills. Mr. Johnson now says goodbye to the life built in Las Vegas, moving to the east coast to live with his mother. He sold a large portion of his belongings in an attempt to cover moving expenses and some of the back rent he owed on his apartment, hoping to avoid an eviction on his record. He sold the car to a junkyard the next day.
Jennifer Rooney and husband Robert Rooney pictured in their neighborhood in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Rooney was furloughed then laid off as an engineer at the Bellagio hotel and casino and now receives $423 a week in Nevada unemployment benefits after taxes. They don’t think they will continue to make the $1,200 rent for their two-bedroom house, where Mr. Rooney’s mother also lives, by the end of the year. He points out the Bellagio on the skyline, visible from his neighborhood. “Looming in the distance is my old job… I can’t stay here, this city is falling apart.” They plan on moving to Texas by the end of the year. (IMAGE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Audio technician Jared K. is pictured outside his home on August 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jared uprooted to Las Vegas from Kentucky three years ago to pursue his dream career in audio with aspirations to be touring. He weighed his options of Las Vegas and other cities, maybe Los Angeles or Nashville. Las Vegas, he felt at the time, provided greater career opportunities and lower cost of living. He saw his career progressing, working his way up from stagehand to audio technician for casino bands until he lost all his work. He questions when work comes back, "am I even going to be able to find a job within my industry? Because it's going to be even more competitive than it was before."
Diana and William Villafana are pictured outside their home with their children Gianni, 6, and Briza, 7, in Henderson, Nevada. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance kept the Villafana family of four afloat. But, in late October, they were notified they had been overpaid more than $7000 in benefits. To repay this debt, benefits are being withheld and the family is down to receiving $73 a week. Mr. Villafana said they are already thousands of dollars in debt. He added their line of credit is pretty much maxed as they’ve been relying on credit cards to cover the family’s rent. $73 a week is the family’s only income. “It’s kind of hard to explain to them, ‘Look, you can’t do this’ or ‘I can’t buy you that,’” he said. “I have no idea what we’re going to do about Christmas.” (IMAGES FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES)