Gov. Steve Sisolak says Nevada can’t fully recover from the pandemic without a lot more affordable housing, something the first-term Democrat hopes he can deliver with help from $500 million in federal COVID relief funds earmarked for reduced-rent developments.
Sisolak touted that half-billion housing investment, dubbed the “Home Means Nevada” initiative, during a roundtable discussion at a newly completed affordable housing complex for seniors in Reno.
The governor, who faces a potentially grueling re-election campaign in November, first debuted the half-billion housing proposal during a rare off-year State of State address delivered late last month.
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On Thursday, he told local housing officials and developers that he considers safe, secure housing to be a fundamental human right.
“We must make a significant difference in our housing (market) and we must do it as quickly as possible,” Sisolak said shortly after touring an “absolutely beautiful” model apartment at the Vintage at the Sanctuary apartments on Gentry Lane. “We don’t have time to waste. We need to get shovels in the ground.”
Sisolak also urged local officials to speed up the process for pushing new developments through the planning and approval process. He later said city and county leaders are free to explore rent control and other proposals meant to temper Nevada’s superheated housing market.
Steve Aichroth, administrator of the Nevada Housing Division, said his agency plans to spend some $300 million in congressional COVID aid on new affordable housing units.
Another $130 million is expected to go toward preserving existing low-income and rent-subsidized units, with the remaining $70 million set aside for remodeling and land purchases.
“If we can allocate these funds efficiently and effectively, we’re going to make great strides,” Aichroth said.
Aichroth told Sisolak and a dozen others in attendance at Thursday’s roundtable, “We all need to make sure we’re in the same boat and paddling in the same direction.
“It just doesn’t get done unless we have developers willing to participate in this space.”
Dane Hillyard — the builder behind the 100-unit downtown Reno apartment complex that hosted Sisolak’s latest stop in the Biggest Little City — reckoned he could soon break ground on another 1,000 affordable units, especially with a financial boost from the American Rescue Plan approved by Congress last March.
Hillyard, who heads Greenstreet Development Inc., has built 10 affordable housing projects in Northern Nevada — all with help provided by the state.
“It’s a big effort and it’s a team effort,” he said. “But everyone here is on the team.”
Legislators could approve the first batch of federal funds for Sisolak’s housing initiative as soon as next month.
Nevada has until 2026 to spend its $2.7 billion share of Congress’ most recent COVID stimulus package.
James DeHaven is the politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal. He covers campaigns, the Nevada Legislature and everything in between. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.
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