Reno, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — RENO, Nev. — A new study from the University of Nevada, Reno Extension highlights a growing crisis in rural housing across the state. The comprehensive report reveals that affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for many residents in Nevada’s rural communities across the state.
The study, commissioned by Nevada Rural Housing, reviewed 59 rural communities and found that only 11 of the communities have homes or units considered affordable at the median income level. Alex Hettinger, who lives with her mother in Fallon due to financial and medical constraints, expressed the difficulty of the situation. “I don’t know how I would survive if I had to like go find an apartment or pay the outrageous rent that everybody else has to pay,” she said.
Roy Visuett, an assistant research coordinator with UNR’s Extension, noted the challenges even in areas with higher median incomes. “Even Story County, which has a higher median income level to the whole state in Nevada, can’t even find affordability at even 120% of the median in household income” he said…