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Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025

Is homelessness in Nevada at its highest since the Great Recession?

Kiara Adams, The Nevada Independent
yes

Homelessness in Nevada is currently at its highest since the Great Recession, which peaked at 14,478 people in 2009. In 2024, the number of people facing homelessness reached 10,106, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, breaking a previous 2014 record of 9,417 people experiencing homelessness.

While the total number of homeless people is at its highest, the rate peaked in 2009 at 41.8 per 10,000 people. The homelessness rate for 2024 was 32 people per 10,000 in Nevada, the ninth highest rate in the nation, but the rate was higher in 2014 — 36.4 per 10,000 people.A study by the Nevada-based Guinn Center for Policy Priorities found that high rental prices can lead to increases in homelessness. The report found nearly half of Nevada’s renters spend an excessive portion of their income on housing. 

This fact brief was corrected on 12/04/2025 at 10:49a.m. to include updated 2024 data.

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The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.

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