Veteran homelessness in Nevada is down 41% – a sign that programs like HUD-VASH and VA outreach are making a real difference. But in Carson City, many of our unhoused neighbors aren’t veterans. They don’t have access to those resources. And they’re being left behind.
The latest count shows over 130 people unhoused in our community. That may seem small next to Las Vegas or Reno, but the need is just as urgent. Shelters are full. Mental health care is hard to get. And affordable housing is almost nonexistent.
What works for veterans can work for everyone: coordinated care, transitional housing, and wraparound services that actually lead somewhere. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel – we just need to scale it.
Carson City is small enough to act fast and smart. Let’s prove it. If we can house veterans, we can house the rest. This is about basic human dignity – and our moral responsibility to one another.
Terrance Deuel
Retired U.S. Army Major
Member, Nevada Veterans Caucus