Introducing the New Affordable Housing Advocate: Making the Silver State Shine and Thrive

It is my distinct honor to introduce myself as the newest member of the Housing Division team within the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. My position as Affordable Housing Advocate was established during the 2017 Legislative Session to help forge a more cohesive relationship with the affordable housing community throughout the state, including major cities like Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno, but also far and wide into rural communities like Elko, Winnemucca, Ely and the like.

I have been a resident of Nevada for 19 years, hailing from a rural town in Alabama called Maplesville. My humble beginnings make me uniquely suited for this advocate role as my parents spent their senior years in a manufactured home like many of my family members. In communities like Maplesville, affordable housing, including manufactured homes were essential for many residents including seniors, people with disabilities, single mothers and those seeking home ownership. Whether it is some of the less fortunate who need Housing Choice Vouchers or those who take advantage of income driven communities, affordable housing remains a vehicle for comfortable living for many nationwide and right here in Nevada.

Prior to this position, I spent 11 years working as the Public Information Officer for the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation promoting workforce development programs and supporting people in their career goals. Like employment, I believe that affordable housing builds the foundation of solid communities. Therefore, I am committed to successfully working with stakeholders to help improve the quality of affordable housing here in the Silver State. As the Affordable Housing Advocate, I am dedicated to serving the needs of our residents by providing stellar customer service to those who need help navigating affordable housing programs, whether they need a referral to emergency shelter, or need help attaining the dream of home ownership. Additionally, I am committed to helping to educate residents and housing providers about how to build a more congenial relationship to make affordable housing communities a happy, safe and comfortable place to live. To that end, I am available for speaking engagements and opportunities to develop partnerships with housing stakeholders, including residents, elected officials, lenders, providers and others who share a common goal of building awesome communities.

I am committed to advocating for more affordable housing opportunities as Nevada is suffering the same crisis of housing affordability as other states around the country. We continue to see rents rising and a lack of accessible, safe and affordable properties. Through working with partners, I hope to tackle some of the affordable housing issues facing Nevada, especially for some of the more vulnerable populations in our communities, including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and others who find the accessibility of affordable housing to be challenging.

I look forward to working with anyone who has a vested interest in nurturing our communities and cultivating the affordable housing landscape. My door is always open. Let’s work together to make our Silver State shine and thrive! I want to hear your ideas. Please send me an email at mwortheythomas@housing.nv.gov or call me at 702-486-5985. You may also learn more about the mission of the Affordable Housing Advocate at https://housing.nv.gov/resources/Affordable_Housing_Advocacy.