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Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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Point in Time counts homeless in Churchill County

Point in Time counts homeless in Churchill County

by Leanna Lehman — 

The world is changing and Churchill County is changing along with it. More and more families are finding themselves dispossessed of permanent housing. While the population of chronically homeless individuals continues to grow, so does the number of situationally homeless. Those individuals have lost their homes and cannot afford, or find, alternate living arrangements.

According to Shannon Ernst, Churchill County Social Services director, the lack of affordable housing is now the leading cause of homelessness in the county. Each year, the Social Services, in partnership with the United States  Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) conducts a one-day homeless count in January. The PIT count is a Point in Time count, and is conducted in a single 24-hour period. Local law enforcement assists Social Services in observing homeless individuals in the area which provides a snap-shot of the area’s homeless situation at that point in time.  

The PIT count is by no means comprehensive as it is only includes individuals observed on the day of count. Additionally, the count takes place in January, which isn’t a time that is truly representative of the area homeless population. The 2019 PIT report observed the following:

Street Count: 7 individuals identified on the street or in an encampment

Emergency Shelters: 12 individuals 

Motel Count: 47 people were residing in motels due the lack of affordable housing in the area.

School Count: 93 homeless minors were counted, including; 16 in hotels, 64 temporarily living with relatives or friends, and 13 unsheltered.

January is probably the worst time to conduct a homeless count in Northern Nevada as the winters are not conducive to living on the streets or in an encampment. At the time of the count, three encampments were included.

HUD is due to release the full statewide report in November which will provide more comprehensive information on the county and Nevada a whole. The 2018 PIT data reported that Nevada is among four states, incidentally all western states, where more than half of all people experiencing homelessness were found in unsheltered locations.

Over 50% of Churchill County’s homeless population is comprised of families, with several reporting being homeless for the first time. In 2003, most unsheltered individuals in the area were single mothers, victims of domestic violence or had substance abuse problems. Since the major economic downturn in 2008, Social Services accounts job loss, underemployment, and housing challenges as the largest contributing factors to the current homeless situation.

According to Ernst, “One of the primary functions of Churchill County Social Services is to secure permanent housing for homeless families and individuals.” Along with placement, Social Services also provides case management that helps clients develop a budget, address various issues they may be facing, and provide referral agencies for those with concurring issues like mental illness, medical conditions, and substance abuse. They also work with clients to address issues that may have contributed to the loss of their housing. They provide budgeting classes, life skills course, and assistance with childcare along with other beneficial services. “The goal is for them to be successful and not become homeless again,” explains Ernst. 

At present there is little that can be done to remedy the number of homeless families seeking shelter. Housing costs continue to rise with the median house price hovering above $440,000 in Washoe County. Fallon has virtually no available low to moderately priced rental homes and asking prices to purchase homes continue to escalate.

Stay tuned to The Fallon Post for more on potential new housing projects being developed throughout the community including efforts by Churchill County to encourage development of multi-family rentals products.       Sign up to receive updates and the Friday File email notices. Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon.
   


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C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITORComment author: Debra J RidenourComment text: So sorry for your loss. My condolences to the family.Comment publication date: 6/21/25, 7:25 PMComment source: Obituary - Ronald Warren Biggs K Comment author: Kim RawlingsComment text: well then vote them out next timeComment publication date: 6/20/25, 2:21 PMComment source: Spross Hired as County Manager After Split Vote, Updates Commission on Current ProjectsComment author: Chris GarrisonComment text: Congratulations Hornets and to Bryce Timmons for making Allstars! I’m a very proud Grandma! ♥️Comment publication date: 6/20/25, 1:39 PMComment source: Fallon Hornets Compete at Youth Nationals Baseball Tournament
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