• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Blog Home
  • Topics
    • Keystone Press Releases
    • Politics and Government
    • Legislation
    • Nevada News
    • Tourism & Gaming
    • Rural Nevada
    • Business
    • Opinion
  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • About Keystone Nevada

Keystone Nevada Korner

Welcome to The Keystone Korner The Official Blog of Keystone Nevada

Home » Poll: Majority of Nevadans support rent control, addition of shelters and bed space

Poll: Majority of Nevadans support rent control, addition of shelters and bed space

April 20, 2022 by Pauline Lee

by Tabitha Mueller, The Nevada Independent, April 20, 2022

Amid punishing rent hikes, an affordable housing shortage and rising costs for food, gas and other essentials, a new Nevada Independent/OH Predictive Insights poll indicates that Nevadans across the political spectrum support rent control policies.

The results of the poll, conducted from April 1-9, indicate that 65 percent of Nevada residents support the state enacting rent control policies or limiting the amount that a landlord can demand when leasing a home or renewing a lease. Support for rent control spanned across the political spectrum, with 81 percent of liberal-identifying respondents saying they supported rent control policies, 65 percent of moderates in favor of the policy and 53 percent of conservatives indicating support. 

Sixty-nine percent of respondents also said they would support the addition of more shelter and bed space as the state’s unsheltered population continues to grow.

The poll results should not be surprising, said Mike Noble, chief of research and managing partner of OH Predictive Insights. He said that in Arizona, Nevada and Utah — states that historically have had lower housing prices — housing costs are becoming out of reach for residents, especially in the wake of the pandemic, which devastated incomes for blue-collar workers.

“Affordability as a local [issue], it’s becoming quite the pain point,” Noble said. “I think any solution is a good solution right now in voters’ minds due to the rising costs that everyone’s seen between housing costs or purchase or rent.”

Rental prices in Nevada have grown by double digits since 2020. The Nevada State Apartment Association reported that as of the end of March, the average asking rent was $1,451 a month in Southern Nevada and $1,513 in Northern Nevada across all apartment types, a 34 percent increase and nearly 24 percent increase compared with prices two years ago, respectively. 

And home prices have hit an all-time high, reaching a median price of $460,000 in Las Vegas (up nearly 27 percent from last year) and $575,000 in the Reno-Sparks area (up almost 20 percent from last year) in March, according to reports from the Las Vegas Realtors Association and the Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors. 

Noble attributed the strong support across party lines for providing more beds and shelters for Nevada’s unsheltered population to the accelerating housing crisis.

The poll sampled 748 registered voters in Nevada via an online opt-in survey. The breakdown of respondents’ party affiliation closely mirrored statewide registration totals, with 30 percent of respondents identifying as Republican, 35 percent as Democrat and 34 percent as nonpartisans not aligned with either major party. The poll had a 4.4 percent margin of error.

Separated by region, residents of Washoe and Clark counties indicated higher levels of support for rent control (68 percent Washoe, 66 percent Clark) and the addition of more shelter and bed space (60 percent Washoe, 73 percent Clark) than those in rural counties. Still, 53 percent of rural respondents said they would support rent control as a potential solution to the housing crisis, and 55 percent indicated support for increased government-provided shelter and bed space.

Broken down by party, 81 percent of Democrats said they supported rent control, and 56 percent of Republicans and nonpartisans said they supported the measure. Twenty-three percent of nonpartisans and 15 percent of Republicans said they were unsure where they stood on the issue.

Though younger generations between the ages of 18 and 54 overwhelmingly supported rent control policies (71 percent), those older than 55 indicated less support for the measure (57 percent). Out of those aged 55 or older, Democrats indicated the most support (83 percent) for rent control followed by Republicans (45 percent) and nonpartisans (43 percent). People with lower levels of educational attainment also were more likely to support rent control.

Noble pointed to the lack of wage increases as a driving force behind younger people and those with lower incomes supporting rent control measures. 

“They’re going to be more adversely impacted with the increases because they have less of an ability to really combat it, compared to folks that have higher incomes or have more job availability or that have been longer in life,” he said. “Typically, the longer you’ve been around, you’re able to make more money on average.”

Results from the poll follow calls from the Clark County Commission urging state lawmakers to take action on rising rents, given that local governments do not have explicit permission to implement policies such as a rent control law.

But Gov. Steve Sisolak told reporters in March that, based on his understanding, local governments already have some authority to implement rent stabilization measures.

“We cannot have rents continuing to spiral like they’re spiraling,” he said. “We are working with our local jurisdictions. I will continue to communicate with legislative leadership to make sure that they’re on the same page, in terms of coming up with a plan moving forward. Again, this is something we need to put a lot of thought into.”

Earlier this week, the state launched a $250 million “Home Means Nevada” affordable housing investment initiative in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood. At the event, Assemblyman Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) said a lot of work needs to be done to address Nevada’s housing crisis, but it is unlikely lawmakers will hold a special legislative session for that purpose in the near future.

“I don’t think it’s likely that we will have a special session, but never say never,” Yeager said. “We definitely have a lot of work to do between now and the next session to figure out what are the solutions when it comes to housing.”

Reporter Naoka Foreman contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Nevada News Tagged With: affordable housing shortage, Home Means Nevada, rent control, rent hikes

Primary Sidebar

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
Bootleg Bistro
Bootleg Bistro Ad
SLLC_Keystone_Blog-Ad_300x500_10%-Off-Repairs_05.19.21
CIOServices Ad 300x500-100
BRH Keystone Ad JPEG
Willow_Manor
Keystone Corporation Nevada

News Topics

  • Keystone Press Releases
  • Politics and Government
  • Legislation
  • Nevada News
  • Tourism & Gaming
  • Rural Nevada
  • Business
  • Opinion

Rural Nevada

UPS and AVK America plan to expand in Douglas County

March 19, 2023 By Courtney Holland

Staff Reports for The Record Courier, March 17, 2023 United Parcel Service plans to build a new 168,000 square foot building in Douglas County, … [Read More...] about UPS and AVK America plan to expand in Douglas County

Redwood Materials gets $2 billion federal loan for mega battery facility near Reno

February 12, 2023 By Pauline Lee

by Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal, February 9, 2023 Redwood Materials just secured a commitment from the federal government for a $2 billion … [Read More...] about Redwood Materials gets $2 billion federal loan for mega battery facility near Reno

LETTER: Voting by conscience or from pocketbook?

January 31, 2023 By vrobison

Not everyone enjoys or is interested in politics, but given the number of retirees in the Moapa and Virgin Valleys, I would imagine there is … [Read More...] about LETTER: Voting by conscience or from pocketbook?

Amodei picked as chair for appropriations subcommittee

January 29, 2023 By The Ely Times

Nevada Representative Mark Amodei was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee on the U.S. House Committee on … [Read More...] about Amodei picked as chair for appropriations subcommittee

Opinion

Hypocrite Biden blocks mineral mining his clean-energy goals require

March 24, 2023 By Pauline Lee

by Carrie Sheffield, New York Post, March 22, 2023 President Joe Biden claims he wants America to lead in “clean energy” production, but he’s again … [Read More...] about Hypocrite Biden blocks mineral mining his clean-energy goals require

OPINION: The ‘Green Amendment’ is well-intended — but that’s not enough

March 19, 2023 By Courtney Holland

By David Colborne, The Nevada Independent, March 19th, 2023 Supporters of AJR3, also known as the “Green Amendment,” want to protect Nevada’s … [Read More...] about OPINION: The ‘Green Amendment’ is well-intended — but that’s not enough

EDITORIAL: Property tax bill deserves a quick trip to the shredder

March 16, 2023 By Courtney Holland

Neal bill would drop the cap, impose a floor. By Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial Board, March 15, 2023 The benefit of competitive political … [Read More...] about EDITORIAL: Property tax bill deserves a quick trip to the shredder

Tags

Adam Laxalt am post Build Back Better Business Business Columns Casinos & Gaming Catherine Cortez Masto Clark County Clark County School District Conventions COVID Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) Editorials Education employment Gov. Joe Lombardo Gov. Steve Sisolak Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) Housing inflation Inside Gaming Joe Lombardo Local Local Las Vegas Local Nevada lvcva mc-business mc-local mc-news mc-opinion mc-sports Nevada News NPRI Opinion Opinion Columns PAID pandemic Politics and Government Real Estate Insider Roe v. Wade Sports The Strip tourism Victor Joecks

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Keystone Corporation - All Rights Reserved · Log in
Privacy Policy
By accessing this site, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use

The views, opinions and conclusions expressed by the authors of any article or post on the Keystone Korner are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Keystone Corporation or its officers and board members. Moreover, any reference to a person, party, product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Keystone Corporation or its officers and board members.