In response to growing housing need across the fifteen rural counties, the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA) commissioned a Rural Housing Needs Assessment report in June 2004. The intent of the needs assessment is provide up-to-date information on the changing demographics, housing trends, and service gaps across the state, as well as help inform NRHA’s current strategic planning process.

Currently, little data is available on the state of housing in Nevada’s rural communities. The statewide Consolidated Plan 2000 – 2005 was last revised in 1999, based upon 1990 Census data. More current needs data is available from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extensive, the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, and the Nevada Rural Development Council. However, data from these agencies only touch on housing issues, and never in depth. Two years ago, the Nevada Housing Division commissioned a Special Needs Housing study. But, again, this report only addressed conditions in Washoe and Clark County and did not survey the rural counties.

The purpose of the Rural Housing Needs Assessment report is to provide NRHA Board and staff with immediate and reliable information about the housing conditions and needs in the rural areas of Nevada. The study addresses the following questions:
• What are the current demographic and economic trends in the rural areas that have an impact on housing?
• What are the greatest housing needs across the rural areas?
• What are the barriers to addressing those needs?
• Where are there opportunities for expansion of housing programs? What type of programs?