LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Affordable housing was a big topic Wednesday night at Governor Joe Lombardo’s State of the State address.

FOX5 has been telling you about affordability issues in the valley for years. We heard from those who are directly impacted, and they might not be who you would expect.

Many casino workers on or close to the Strip tell FOX5 they don’t live anywhere near it. And that’s in spite of bringing in multiple paychecks, according to Dennys Salinas.

“Everybody right now is working three jobs just to maintain an apartment, and they’re not even owning any property,” Salinas said. He works at a hotel-casino near the Strip.

Salinas has been in the valley for a decade and explains he doesn’t recognize this town anymore as he had to move from place to place.

“The price has changed a lot drastically. It used to be cheap,” Salinas said.

He isn’t the only one saying that. Governor Joe Lombardo says he understands the struggles many are facing with housing costs.

“We know too many Nevadans are seriously questioning if they’ll ever have the chance to own a home,” Lombardo said. “Everyone has been affected by this crisis. No one is untouched.”

Governor Lombardo said to tackle housing affordability issues, he’s proposing the Nevada Attainable Housing Act.

The bill prioritizes state funding that will support $1 billion in new attainable housing units across the state.

“Whether you’re renting, saving for your first home or starting over, know this. We see you, we hear you, and we’re in this together,” Governor Lombardo said.

This all comes as the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority just opened its public housing waitlist where tens of thousands of low-income valley residents are expected to apply.

Executive Director, Lewis Jordan says that could include workers who keep the tourism industry alive.

“We have to also change this perception of what affordable housing is and who needs it,” Jordan said. “I often wonder when you talk about, you know, the hospitality industry, the gaming industry how many of the employees that work in those industries can’t afford to live within minutes of where they work?”

The high prices take their toll. The latest report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition finds about 70% of low-income Nevadans are cost-burdened by their housing costs.

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