Secures ghettos every now and then (4)
I believe the answer is:
gets
'secures' is the definition.
'ghettos every now and then' is the wordplay.
'every now and then' indicates alternate letters (letters selected at regular intervals).
The alternate letters of 'ghettos' are 'GETS'.
(Other definitions for gets that I've seen before include "Fetches or receives" , "Acquires, obtains" , "Understands" , "Notices" , "Obtains or becomes" .)