Nevada set to approve $12M housing initiative to combat rising homelessness

FILE - In this May 22, 2007 file photo, Construction workers build a luxury home at the newly developed site of Toll Brothers in Henderson, Nev. The Southern Nevada Water Authority wants to draw more than 11.3 billion gallons of groundwater a year from from the Delamar, Dry Lake, Cave valleys and all in central Lincoln County. That amount of water, expanded through reuse and other means, could supply more than 100,000 homes in the fast-growing Las Vegas area. A Nevada judge has rejected plans for Las Vegas to draw water from rural valleys straddling the Nevada-Utah state line to slake the thirst of Sin City residents and tourists. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

By Piper Heath

January 21, 2025

The funding comes from a 2023 bill signed into law that seeks to allocate $30 million for permanent supportive housing developments statewide.

As homelessness reaches record levels across the nation, Nevada officials are preparing to distribute $12 million to create permanent supportive housing for the state’s most vulnerable residents.

The funding comes as Nevada’s homeless population surged to more than 10,000 people in 2024, up from 8,600 in 2023 — mirroring a national crisis that saw more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night last January, including an unprecedented 40% rise nationally in family homelessness.

The crisis has alarmed local service providers, including Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada CEO Marie Baxter, as the state works to address growing needs.

“It’s very terrifying,” Baxter told KOLO 8.

The state’s response was driven by Assembly Bill 310 of the 2023 legislative session, which took effect in January and earmarked $30 million for permanent supportive housing development statewide. The law led to the approval of five major housing proposals, with most projects concentrated in Northern Nevada.

Those applicants scored highest in the initial review presented to the Nevada Interagency Council on Homelessness in December, with final awards to be announced this month. The Washoe County Cares Campus emerged as a leading candidate with plans to create 50 units for chronically homeless individuals. Other proposals aim to convert existing motels into housing for people with severe mental illness and construct new units for medically vulnerable residents.

Unlike traditional transitional housing programs, the permanent supportive housing model offers stable, long-term solutions without time limits. Residents will sign formal leases and receive comprehensive support services, including case management.

A new application round will open in spring 2025 to allocate the remaining funds, with officials seeking to address geographic disparities. The initial round drew 12 applications — seven from Northern Nevada, four from Southern Nevada, and one from rural Nevada.

The legislation includes $2 million for assessing statewide permanent supportive housing needs. Consultants will be hired to evaluate the program’s progress and track outcomes.

The approved projects will create approximately 182 housing units, targeting individuals who face significant barriers to housing, including those with limited income, criminal records, eviction histories, poor credit scores, or mental health challenges.