Nevada Rural Housing (NRH) is a significant developer/owner in the state because it is one of the very few public entities that serves the majority of the land mass in the state, namely, its rural areas. As of 2024, the agency has completed its largest project to date, and NRHA has several lessons to share.
Since its incorporation in 1984, Mesquite, once dubbed “The fastest growing city in America” for its size, has seen substantial growth. The population surged from 25,000 to 35% more between 2011 and 2021, leading to a vibrant expansion of local businesses and amenities. Residents now benefit from new medical facilities, retail stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, and recreational options. This growth has amplified the demand for affordable housing, particularly for the service industry workforce. To address this need, NRH collaborated with the City of Mesquite to develop Hafen Village Apartments, a significant project in the city.
The complex offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 688 to 1,176 square feet, with amenities including patios, balconies, extra storage, and air conditioning. Residents can enjoy communal areas such as a computer lab, library, BBQ and picnic spots, dog park, community garden, playground, laundry room, fitness center, and an entertainment space with a kitchen.
Mesquite, located in Clark County, which comprises 69.7% of Nevada’s population, meets the NRH rural jurisdiction criteria with a population under 150,000. A 2019 study highlighted 40% of rental households in Mesquite/Northeast Clark County were overburdened, with most rental properties built before 1994. Hafen Village is designed to serve families earning at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI).
The successful development of Hafen Village was made possible through $37 million in project sources, including Nevada Housing Division Housing Trust Funds, Clark County HOME Funds, Federal Home Loan Bank San Francisco Affordable Housing Program Funds, and multiple tax credit application rounds. NRHA successfully managed the property’s phased construction, which was challenged by particularly high materials costs driven by supply-chain impacts from COVID. One of the ways NRH overcame challenges was through partnerships, particularly with the City of Mesquite as it contributed donated land plus labor to move literal tons of dirt from another site to the Hafen Village site. Without the city’s partnership, the project would have struggled to pencil.
Material costs were really rising at that time. For some large projects, $600,000 for the labor of moving dirt and trucking costs might not seem like a big deal, but for our project, it made all the difference. The city made a significant impact in bringing these units online.
Support from local organizations, such as the Mesquite Veterans Center and the First Baptist Church-Mesquite, has been crucial. The church’s pastor participated in the groundbreaking ceremony, and the Veterans Center has facilitated connections with veterans in need of housing. The first tenants included several veterans, demonstrating the project's impact on the community.
Hafen Village Apartments are a testament to effective collaboration and the importance of affordable housing in a growing community. Partners have already identified other sites of donated land for more development in the future.