APRIL 2022

The Time For Housing Is Now

On April 7th, I stood before the Interim Finance Committee and asked for their vote to transfer $250 million in Fiscal Recovery Funds to the Home Means Nevada initiative, which would be allocated to the Department of Business and Industry, Housing Division for the purposes of developing and preserving affordable housing in Nevada.

Nevada is at a crossroad, and the Committee had an important decision to make. This wasn’t a question of should we or shouldn’t we … instead, it was a question of what happens if we don’t invest in housing? The answer presents itself every day in our current environment. We are in a place of crisis because of decades of uphill challenges. But this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity could reduce this incline. It’s wildly difficult to make affordable housing development initiatives pencil, but these dollars could change so much of that across the state of Nevada. While there are other challenges we can’t control in our industry and world, this IS something we can do to continue the momentum of recovery.

It’s with great pleasure that we announce the transfer was approved. Our housing partners and stakeholders across the state are ready with projects that will benefit from this investment. This will impact our kids, our grandkids and generations to come. If done right – and we have the utmost confidence in the Nevada Housing Division’s people and proven processes to be a responsible and accountable steward – this could help our housing ecosystem in perpetuity.

While there is still work to be done, we want to take a moment to celebrate this historic investment in affordable housing. There are so many to thank for helping to make this possible, including Governor Sisolak, Treasurer Conine, IFC Members, and our NHC Task Force Members. Together we are helping to build a better, brighter future for all Nevadans.

Let’s do this together and NOW.

Thank you.

Bill Brewer
Executive Director, Nevada Rural Housing Authority
Chairman, NHC Board of Directors

Click HERE to watch the full meeting on this initiative.

Home Means Nevada Initiative update

On April 14th, Governor Steve Sisolak officially launched the Home Means Nevada Initiative! Pre-Applications are now open. Download a copy HERE or find them on NevadaRecovers.com.

Read the official Press Release HERE along with additional press coverage:

To learn more about the program, how to apply, and how the historic investment will be deployed to help Nevadans in need, join our April Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, April 27th at 12:00pm. Register now!

In The News

State Infrastructure Bank adopts regulations to support projects using the strongest labor and environmental protections in history

Last week, the Nevada State Infrastructure Bank adopted regulations that will give financing priority to infrastructure projects, including affordable housing.

Using general obligation bonds totaling $75 million, the funds will be allocated to support the following:

$40 million – leverage federal infrastructure investments into Nevada through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
$20 million – leverage an estimated $200 million to develop affordable housing in partnership with the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust
$15 million – support capital projects for charter schools in low-income areas

The regulations received bipartisan support and will follow specific standards such as hiring Nevada residents and disadvantaged workers during the construction projects and utilizing project labor agreements which will provide workers with fair wages and safe working conditions.

Projects will begin receiving financing this summer.

Read the full Press Release HERE.

2022 Nevada Housing Conference

Call for Conference Ideas

Do you have an innovative idea for a Panel at this year’s Nevada Housing Conference? Do you know an exceptional Speaker you would like to see lead a Session or moderate a Break Out? We love seeing engagement in our planning process and invite you to send your Conference ideas to amanda.lakin@nvhousingcoalition.org.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Do you plan to attend our Housing Conference and need CEUs for your profession? If so, please let us know so we can go through the proper channels to offer them this year. Please contact amanda.lakin@nvhousingcoalition.org. Any information you can provide to assist with this process would be helpful.

Upcoming Events

Home Means Nevada Initiative
Wednesday, April 27
12:00 – 12:45pm

This month, we welcome Steve Aichroth, Administrator of the Nevada Housing Division, and Michael Holliday, Chief Financial Officer of the Nevada Housing Division, to provide an overview of the Home Means Nevada Initiative. Learn more about this program, how to apply, and how this historic investment will be deployed to reach Nevadans in need. Special guest, Governor Steve Sisolak will kick off the session.

Landlord Engagement Event

Tuesday, May 17th
5:00pm

In partnership with Southern Nevada Continuum of Care, this event will provide landlords with information on how they can get involved with supportive housing programs. Food will be served. Email pagem@pagestrategicsolutions.com to register or click HERE for more information.

member spotlight

Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas

April’s Member Spotlight brings us Angela Phillips, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. In this episode, she shares how the organization has been serving the community for the past 30 years along with current projects and her vision for the future.

If you would like to be featured in a future Member Spotlight, please contact amanda.lakin@nvhousingcoalition.org.

Federal Update

FY23 Appropriations

The President recently released the full fiscal year 2023 budget request. An analysis by NLIHC of the housing priorities in the FY23 Budget Request can be found HERE.

Some highlights for housing within the budget include:

$32.1 billion to renew existing Housing Choice Vouchers and expand rental assistance to an extra 200,000 households
$3.6 billion to help address homelessness through Homeless Assistance Grants
$300 million for competitive tribal housing funds
$100 million for HUD legal assistance to prevent evictions
Additional funding for public housing

You can help show your support by signing the National Sign On Letter by May 15th.

Member Moments

Nevada HAND’s CEO Testifies before United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Audra Hamernik, CEO of Nevada HAND and a member of NHC’s Board of Directors, was invited to appear before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to testify at a hearing entitled, “Affordability and Accessibility: Addressing the Housing Needs of America’s Seniors.”

Audra provided the committee with an overview of Nevada HAND’s experience in providing affordable housing and supportive services to seniors in Nevada. She discussed the challenges seniors are facing when finding and maintaining an accessible and affordable place to live. She also discussed the challenges that Nevada HAND faces when developing and maintaining multi-family and senior affordable housing serving the lowest income seniors and those who have experienced homelessness.

You can read her full testimony HERE or watch the hearing HERE. Audra begins speaking at 00:33:01.

Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas Receives $1 Million Gift

Habitat for Humanity International and 83 U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations recently received $436 million in unrestricted giving from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Habitat of Humanity Las Vegas received $1 million of that gift to increase and expand their work. The donation will help further Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has equitable access to a safe, decent and affordable place to call home. Check out this month’s Member Spotlight to learn more about Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas.

Executive Director Hired for Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada

Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada (RTNNV) welcomed their first staff member, Executive Director Katie Pace, this month. Katie served as Board President for over two years and was instrumental in founding RTNNV. She worked to build a strong foundation of committees and volunteers to provide home repairs for low-income homeowners. Congratulations to Katie and RTNNV!

Do You Have an Announcement?
If you’re an active member of NHC and have an announcement to share in an upcoming Newsletter, please contact amanda.lakin@nvhousingcoalition.org.

Resources

Newest NHC Website Resources:

NLIHC Advocates’ Guide ’22 (Mar. 2022)

Operation Home! - Landlords Needed

Partner
KeyBank

Nonprofit & Government
Southwest Central Regional Economic Development Authority
Three Square Food Bank

Friend/Advocate
Cynthia Watson

Sustaining
Nevada HAND
Nevada Rural Housing Authority
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority

Partner
B&H Construction
City of Reno
NewWest Community Capital
RTC SNV
U.S. Bank

Business
BRAZEN Architecture
Churchill Stateside Group
Integrated Design & Architecture
Novus Architecture
RCG Economics, LLC

Nonprofit & Government
Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada
Community Chest, Inc.
Community Services Agency Development Corp.
Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas
Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Nevada Homeless Alliance
Opportunity Alliance Nevada
RISE
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Rural Nevada Development Corporation
Southern Nevada Center for Independent Living
State of Nevada
UNLV Medicine – Mojave Counseling

Friend/Advocate
Joann Carpenter
Christine Hess
Tim Kosier
Jamie Thalgott

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Nevada Housing Coalition