D. Gary Longaker
Executive Director, Nevada Rual Housing Authority

Living in rural Nevada presents a quality of life beyond compare. Rural areas, however, often get overlooked when it comes to services, both government and private sector. Among a rural community’s many needs, from jobs to schools to fire protection service, is affordable housing. Recognizing this need, the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA) was created in 1972 to provide rural Nevadans with the same kinds of housing resources that the public housing authority and housing finance agencies were providing for metropolitan areas.

Nearly 40 years later, NRHA is working harder than ever to help more of our fellow citizens find and keep safe, comfortable, affordable housing. In the past year, we’ve completed a strategic plan leading to a complete reorganization. We are now more effective, more efficient and, perhaps most importantly, more energized than ever to serve the housing needs of our rural population.

Here are some of NRHA’s recent accomplishments:
• Cited three times as a High Performer for our rental assistance program
• Successfully implemented a Section 8 Home Ownership program
• Became first Nevada public housing association to implement rental assistance for homeless veterans
• Rehabilitated and expanded our senior facility in Carson City using tax credits
• Partnered with Nevada counties, rural cities and the State to pool federal bond funds resulting in a statewide program that has helped 430 families purchase their first home
• Sponsored Desert Winds Development Group, a community housing development organization
• Formed the second in the nation statewide community land trust for the development of affordable housing • Took over administration of the northern Nevada Weatherization Program helping low-income families improve energy efficiency
• Helped ten families build their own homes and become first-time home owners through the Self-Help 523 program
• Began consulting other communities in the development of their own affordable housing programs
• Developed, enhanced and broadened relationships with affordable housing advocates in the state, region and nation

While NRHA has accomplished a lot, we’re just getting started. We are constantly evaluating new approaches and strategies to ensure stable housing solutions in the long-term. We’re creating a comprehensive statewide housing assessment, reaching out to new partners, developing new funding sources for our first-time homebuyer program and finding unique housing solutions for communities from Battle Mountain to Ely, Caliente to Pahrump.

We’re working to get more Nevadans home. Everyday. Follow our progress by signing up for our online newsletter, NRHA Doorbell.