Not all housing units that are affordable are actually available to low income households.

According to the Nevada Housing Division’s (NHD), Annual Housing Progress Report (AHPR), NRS 278 requires the NHD to maintain a statewide low-income housing database and AHPR using information compiled from jurisdiction reports. Clark and Washoe Counties are required to adopt a Housing Plan as a part of the jurisdiction’s Master Plan. The plan is required to inventory housing conditions, project future needs and demands, and to adopt strategies to provide for all forms of housing, including that which is affordable. In addition, SB 473 changed the definition of affordable housing to include housing for households up to 120% of HUD’s Area Median Family Income (HAMFI), previously households up to 80% of HAMFI.

In order to receive housing funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), each jurisdiction is also required to prepare a 5-year Consolidated Plan. As part of the housing needs analysis, jurisdictions are required to use the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data supplied by HUD to estimate how many affordable housing units are needed for their population.  The Housing Division has assigned all jurisdictions the number of affordable units needed using CHAS data (households with one or more housing problems and income under 80% HAMFI (low income).  This is a relatively broad and inclusive measure of housing needs. This estimate was adjusted downward by subtracting out CHAS estimates of housing units that are affordable to low income households and vacant. This helps account for affordable and available private market units. The Housing Division assigns this estimate to help make them comparable across jurisdictions.