Opinion: Rural housing for all: Supporting affordable homes in Nevada

Anya Lindsey, a single mother, was sharing a bedroom with her two young children at her parents’ home when she heard a news story about USDA Rural Development’s programs for affordable homes.

Before reaching out to Rural Development – Nevada, Anya had concerns that it would be difficult, or even impossible, to afford a home on a limited income.

Un Lee, living in Las Vegas, was displaced from her apartment because of an increase of rent. Ms. Lee was living from hotel room to hotel room, wondering if there would ever be an opportunity to find permanent housing, before she called the USDA Rural Development office in Las Vegas and asked for help.

Today, both Anya Lindsey and Un Lee as well as many other Nevadans have been able to find safe and affordable housing through USDA’s housing programs. Throughout the country, USDA Rural Development has helped nearly 5 million families and individuals secure housing, and throughout the Silver State, we work hard to extend this opportunity to everyone in our rural communities.

Expanding opportunities for homeownership strengthens our rural communities and helps people build wealth and achieve financial stability. That’s why, each June, USDA Rural Development celebrates Homeownership Month by sharing success stories and resources to help people in rural communities and on Tribal lands buy, repair, build, and rent homes.

In Nevada, our housing staff is visiting rural community centers and housing partners to promote our programs and connect with people who may not know that buying a home — or making necessary improvements to their existing home — is entirely accessible.

USDA Rural Development has numerous resources to support affordable housing and help rural residents create a path to a better future.

Under the continued leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, USDA is making sure rural and Tribal communities — especially those that have been overlooked in the past — have equitable access to housing resources.

This support is critical as residents of rural communities face rising housing costs and other economic challenges. In response to these difficulties, President Biden recently announced a plan to increase the affordable housing stock throughout the country, particularly in rural communities, and USDA is supporting this vision.

The Biden-Harris administration has already invested $26 billion to help nearly 150,000 people in rural and Tribal communities to buy, repair, and build homes through USDA Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Programs. This includes helping more than 35,000 families and individuals living in socially vulnerable communities become homeowners.

We also recognize that homeownership is one of many options — different families have different needs. USDA also offers rental assistance that can help to free up more income for families to build wealth or to give back to their communities.

Whether you own or rent a home, you become invested in — and connected to — where you live.

While June is when we celebrate access to safe and affordable housing, USDA will continue to expand the reach of our housing programs so that everyone in rural Nevada has the opportunity to find a home they deserve, and one that fits their unique situation.

You can learn more about our housing resources by visiting https://www.rd.usda.gov/nv or calling our office directly at 775-443-4787.

Related: Nevada tribal communities to get $27M for affordable housing