What causes homelessness? A survey says there's one major factor

In 2023, volunteers asked almost 400 people a series of questions to identify why they were there:

The answers varied but Marie Mortera learned, about the number one factor:

"The driver into homelessness was losing a job, could not retain, didn't have social supports anymore. They may have bouncing from couch to couch and exhausted the social resources they had," says Daniel C. Farrell, HELP USA's Chief Operating Officer.

As for what he's seeing in 2025: "Things have gotten worse. Exacerbated for sure. I can't stress enough the number of affordable units in Las Vegas is so low." He continued, "Vegas, more than more cities in the country, lead the country with the least amount of units the population can afford so working poor, folks who have job insecurity, may bounce around from job to job or unemployed may have a difficult time finding and maintaining an apartment."

As for solutions, some are in place. The courtyard addresses mental health and substance use and projects like a never-before-seen microbusiness park in the Historic Westside aims to aid in upskilling the workforce and add affordable housing units. Yet, an ongoing challenge remains - there is still a shortage of shelter beds..

"I do believe localities need shelters beds. It keeps them (unhoused individuals) with access to services, safe, shelter beds ability to have a shower, and a place to stay and dignity, even if it's not the best place to say," says Farrell.

While eliminating homelessness may not be a reality he says, providing stability for those most vulnerable is.

Farrell points to the veterans population experiencing less homelessness than before.

"Numbers of veterans experiencing homelessness dropped precipitously and that's the only cohort years later and the numbers have continued to drop," says Farrell.

What also needs to be addressed? He says evictions.

AB is looking to change the process so landlords file a complaint first.

That continues to make its way through the Nevada legislature.