Housing Shortages Create Homeless in Churchill County

  by Leanna Lehman --  Nevada is among several western states experiencing severe housing shortages. Not only is housing difficult to find but has become far from affordable for many residents. Churchill County is facing unique difficulties that are exacerbating the local housing issue in the Lahontan Valley. In anticipation of the release next week of the 2019 Point in Time Report, a one-day effort to gather data from the local homeless population, Churchill County Social Services director, Shannon Ernst, reports that the lack of affordable housing is now the number one cause of homelessness in our area. According www.renotahoe.com, Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, TRI, is now the largest industrial complex in the world.  In an effort to avoid I-80 traffic congestion and secure their own affordable housing, many residents from Washoe County have moved into the Fallon area, putting additional tension on an already-strained rental housing market. At the same time, the NAS Fallon housing demolition and construction project has displaced several Navy families, forcing them into area rentals. The result is a significantly decreased number of houses for rent which has driven up prices. According to data collected by Out of Reach 2018, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in Nevada is $966 per month. One-bedroom apartments in the state reflect an FMR of $772 monthly. In order to sustain this level of rent with utilities, members of the household must earn $3,222 monthly which translates to approximately $18.59 per hour. Individuals earning minimum wage, would need work 90 hours a week – the equivalent of holding 2.3 full-time jobs. Currently, an inventory of local, Fallon rental properties available online shows only three apartments listed with various property management companies. One is a two-bedroom one bathroom for $650, one is a one bedroom one bathroom for $675, and the last is a three-bedroom two bathroom for $925. Social Services does have a program for individuals who qualify under income guidelines for rental vouchers. The program is one effort to help house and stabilize families. However, the problem is inventory, “even if they can afford the rent,” states Ernst, “we can’t find them housing.” This week, the state legislature considered implementing up to $40 million in incentives for developers to build and rehabilitate low-income homes and apartments in the state. If passed, developers will have four years to complete their projects. While passage of the bill will be beneficial statewide, it will be a little value to individuals and families facing homelessness right now.   Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.