What’s Happening
Las Vegas officials have begun construction on over 200 affordable apartments in the Northwest and East Valley areas of the city. These new housing units will be available to people earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income.
Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom (D) said:
“This parcel was owned by the housing authority for 20 years, couldn’t get anything to happen and then COVID hit, the president was there, congress was there, and we got the money,”
Housing Crisis Background
Southern Nevada has faced rising housing costs that have contributed to growing homelessness. According to the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care Census, the unhoused population increased by 20% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The census also found that more than 40% of the unhoused population is African American.
Las Vegas Housing Situation
Las Vegas has experienced one of the nation’s most volatile housing markets in recent years. After recovering from the 2008 crash, the city saw home prices soar during the pandemic as remote workers relocated from more expensive markets. This influx drove median home prices up nearly 30% between 2020 and 2023.
Rental rates followed a similar trajectory, with average rents increasing approximately 25% during the same period. The tourism-dependent economy, with its high proportion of service industry jobs, has left many workers unable to keep pace with housing costs.
Vacancy rates remain at historic lows, further complicating the search for affordable housing for middle and lower-income residents.
According to the University of Nevada Las Vegas Center for Business and Economic Research, the median home price in Las Vegas reached $450,000 in late 2023, making homeownership increasingly difficult for middle-income residents. The Nevada Housing Division reported in its 2023 Annual Affordable Housing Report that nearly 43% of Las Vegas renters are considered “cost-burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
Collaborative Approach
The project represents cooperation between different levels of government. Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Home Means Nevada initiative.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley emphasized this partnership:
“This is exactly what collaboration looks like. A meeting of the county and city coming together to help provide affordable housing along with the fed govt and the county and the city very important.”
Personal Connection
Commissioner William McCurdy II (D) shared his personal connection to the area:
“28th and Sunrise is near and dear to my heart because I have a relative and I used to hang out at their house, and it was public housing. We used to call it the Brixton projects.”
McCurdy also addressed root causes of homelessness:
“One of the root causes of homelessness is lack of employment and wellbeing in terms of day to day way of living so we need to continue more resources for those entering homelessness.”
Future Developments
Next week, McCurdy, who also works with the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, will break ground on a historic Westside microbusiness center. This project will include 76 affordable housing units.
The new center will be located next to Nevada Partners and the Culinary Academy, potentially creating opportunities for job training and employment sustainability alongside housing solutions.
Different Perspectives
Housing development approaches often generate varied viewpoints. Some advocate for market-based solutions with minimal government involvement, while others support public investment in affordable housing. This project represents one approach among many possible strategies to address housing affordability.
The effectiveness of this particular approach will become clearer as the projects develop and residents move in over the coming months and years.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
