If you’ve lived in Nevada long enough, you’re probably aware that affordable housing has been a significant issue in our beautiful state. We’ve certainly seen local and state officials work hard to use government-owned land on the outskirts of city limits for building more cost-effective homes. But let’s face it – land availability is just the tip of the iceberg.
Industry insiders believe we should be focusing our energies on steady funding for affordable housing projects. Remember when President Joe Biden visited us in Southern Nevada back in March 2024? He spoke about national solutions to the wide-ranging housing crisis. However, our Governor Joe Lombardo wasn’t very thrilled with the White House’s hesitance to offer more federal land for housing construction.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, we lack over 78,000 affordable homes for folks living at or below the federal poverty level. Wally Swenson, from the nonprofit developer Nevada HAND, thinks the secret sauce for affordable housing lies in the financing. Financial resources, the availability of land, and supportive zoning laws all play a vital role.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has been a significant help as Biden directed a substantial amount of federal funds our way. Our previous Governor, Steve Sisolak, allocated $500 million of these funds towards housing projects, that’s supported our state’s push to fund the building and preservation of affordable homes. As Swenson rightly put it, even this impressive amount of funding has its limits.
The state is currently building about 3,000 units using these federal relief funds, but we need even more to address our housing crisis. We need to come together as a community and brainstorm diverse solutions to the problem – everything from securing more land for development to increasing financing for developers.
Additionally, policymakers could reach out to corporations that are setting up shop in Nevada. Encouraging them to budget for their employees’ housing could be a beneficial move. After all, when it comes to affordable housing, we need to explore all possible options.
The affordable housing landscape in Las Vegas and Henderson is undergoing an exciting transformation, with a resurgence of townhomes and condos coming back on the market. Around 2008, many apartment complexes were converted into condos, but since then, new construction of these types of homes has been limited. Now, we’re seeing a renewed focus on these options, providing more affordable housing choices for residents. Additionally, there are down payment assistance programs available to help make homeownership even more accessible.
For those looking for even more budget-friendly options, consider Pahrump and Mesquite, which offer awesome affordable living and are conveniently close to Las Vegas.
But here’s the thing: our state’s housing crisis isn’t just about land availability. Just because we have more land doesn’t mean it’s ideal for constructing homes. Building on the outskirts of cities could lead to increased commute times and transportation costs. These are factors we simply can’t ignore, as transportation is often the second highest expense for families, behind housing.
That’s why the conversation needs to shift beyond just using federal land for housing. Take a look at the future revenue projections from the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada – we’re looking at a potential shortage starting in 2028 just for maintaining our existing roads. Building new infrastructure for homes on federal land at the city’s edge will need extra funding.
We should also remember that different types of housing aren’t limited by local laws with exclusionary zoning, as stressed by Alex Horowitz, the project director of the Pew Charitable Trust Housing Policy Initiative. Some states have already legalized accessory dwelling units – think basement apartments or converted garages in single-family houses or duplexes.
While expanding land might seem like an easy fix to Nevada’s housing crisis, it’s not the only solution. With smart planning and innovative solutions, we can create more affordable homes within city limits – making it easier for residents to live closer to their workplaces, schools, and grocery stores.
