Vegas Stripped: A former tunnel dweller — VIDEO
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(Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ricky Lee Cole poses near an entrance to the flood tunnels on South Las Vegas Boulevard Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. He has lived on and off in the flood tunnels for 20 years. Only recently did he move in to an apartment through the HELP program of Southern Nevada. Despite having a real address, he still struggles to find a job, stay clean, and live a "normal" life. Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @rookie__rae
An entrance to the flood tunnels near the Fabulous Las Vegas sign on South Las Vegas Boulevard Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @rookie__rae
Ricky Lee Cole in a flood tunnel near South Las Vegas Boulevard Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. He has lived on and off in the flood tunnels for 20 years. Only recently did he move in to an apartment through the HELP program of Southern Nevada. Despite having a real address, he still struggles to find a job, stay clean, and live a "normal" life. Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @rookie__rae
Ricky Lee Cole talks to his friend in a flood tunnel near South Las Vegas Boulevard Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. He has lived on and off in the flood tunnels for 20 years. Only recently did he move in to an apartment through the HELP program of Southern Nevada. Despite having a real address, he still struggles to find a job, stay clean, and live a "normal" life. Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @rookie__rae
Ricky Lee Cole waits in a flood tunnel near South Las Vegas Boulevard Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. He has lived on and off in the flood tunnels for 20 years. Only recently did he move in to an apartment through the HELP program of Southern Nevada. Despite having a real address, he still struggles to find a job, stay clean, and live a "normal" life. Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @rookie__rae
Ricky Lee Cole has lived off and on in the flood tunnels beneath Las Vegas for 20 years. He recently was placed in an apartment through HELP of Southern Nevada, but still has great difficulty finding a job.
He credits Matt O’Brien, author of Beneath the Neon, as the greatest sources of assistance over the past few years.
Vegas Stripped is a weekly series appearing on Thursdays on reviewjournal.com. Follow Rachel Aston on Twitter: @Rookie__Rae
