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Housing Division outlines $500M ARPA program, Windsor Park contract and new staff requests
Summary
The Nevada Housing Division told lawmakers the Home Means Nevada ARPA program has obligated all $500 million and is spending against a $1.95 billion project pipeline; the division also described staffing and fiscal controls requests and reported a $37 million Windsor Park contract that faces a potential $12 million reversion question.
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Housing Division told the Assembly subcommittee on general government that it has obligated $500 million in American Rescue Plan state and local fiscal recovery funds (Home Means Nevada Initiative) to support affordable housing projects statewide and is seeking additional staff and consulting support to manage the increased funding, compliance work and land‑acquisition tasks.
Administrator Steve Acroft said the division received $500 million in ARPA SLFRF funding for the Home Means Nevada Initiative and has obligated all of it; the division reports current expenditures of about $195 million, or 39% of the ARPA allocation, and said all ARPA funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. Acroft told the committee that most financed projects have closed and many have begun construction; the division identified two completed small projects (Reno Housing Authority’s Scott Manor and Veil Yard Flats in Sparks) and larger projects under way.
Christine Hess, the housing division’s chief financial officer, described several budget enhancement requests the division said are needed after rapid growth in managed funds and new bond programs. The division requested three fiscal positions (an auditor, an accountant and a management analyst) to expand fiscal monitoring and bond accounting, and a management analyst focused on land acquisition and special projects such as Windsor Park. Hess said bond issuance activity has expanded significantly: the division reported moving from roughly $20 million in annual single‑family bond issuance to about $450 million annually and issuing roughly $1.2 billion in multifamily bonds in recent years, driving additional accounting and monitoring needs.
The committee also heard details about Windsor Park, the Environmental Justice Act project created by SB 450 (2023). Acroft and Hess said the Legislature appropriated $37 million for Windsor Park — a mix that includes a $25 million ARPA allocation and a $12 million general fund appropriation that may revert at the end of the fiscal year if not carried forward. The division said it has a contract with Community Development Program Center of Nevada (CDPCN) to develop up to 93 replacement homes for Windsor Park residents, but acknowledged the schedule is sensitive to land acquisition and to IFC and budget actions needed to program ARPA funds and address the possible general‑fund reversion.
Senator Neal provided public comment by phone and said her understanding is that title to land for the Windsor Park project has been opened and that land is in escrow; division staff said during questioning that land acquisition remained in due diligence and was “not technically in escrow yet.” The division and the senator therefore offered differing public characterizations of the land‑acquisition status; the committee did not make a formal determination.
On program timing, Acroft said the Home Means Nevada projects that have closed will advance construction and that the division expects most ARPA‑funded projects to spend by the federal expenditure deadline. On the supportive housing development fund (AB 310, 2023), the division reported $32.2 million in general‑fund appropriation and said it has awarded five initial grants — roughly $12 million — with a second round planned in the spring. The division expects the supportive housing awards to be fully obligated by the fall and grantee agreements to run for five years.
Hess said the division also is seeking consulting funds for technology modernization and communications work across its operating accounts and emphasized ongoing corrective actions following earlier audits; the proposed auditor position would co‑lead an internal audit and compliance committee. On weatherization, the division said it receives formula Department of Energy funding (roughly $1.2 million annually) and a $24 million BIL award spread over five years; the division said those federal awards are active and being deployed.
Ending: The committee posed questions about timelines, the potential reversion of general funds, alternate federal funding sources and the need for a land‑acquisition specialist. Housing officials said they will work with the governor’s finance office and the Interim Finance Committee on programming ARPA funds and resolving the $12 million timing question. Senator Neal’s public comment raised a discrepancy about whether a parcel is already in escrow; division staff said acquisition remained in due diligence.
