Nevada City, Calif. – Nevada County has extended their housing survey an extra week, through Feb. 29. The survey aims to identify the housing challenges that affect residents the most. Employers are also sharing their challenges with housing.
“We want to hear from everyone, including our small and large businesses, on the challenges they’ve seen with their employees,” said Mike Dent, Nevada County’s Director of Housing and Community Services.
To date, men and those who work in private businesses are under-represented in survey responses.
Jerry Cirino, owner of Cirino’s at Main Street Restaurant in Grass Valley and a building contractor, said the housing shortage hurts his ability to do business in Nevada County.
“I can’t find employees because they can’t find a place to live,” he said. “I can’t keep them because they can’t afford to stay here.”
In the past, he has even gone on KNCO radio to ask for rental housing for employees who haven’t been able to find any place to live.
When people leave Nevada County because they can’t find housing, it hurts everyone, Cirino said. “We are missing the economic benefit of their talent,” he said.
Kimberly Parker, program manager of the Nevada County Economic Development Office, said, “Local employers look to the County to help address underlying structural and systematic barriers such as the missing middle housing that undermines Nevada County’s top-rated quality of life and ability to attract jobs at all levels.”
Residents, employees, and employers are encouraged to complete the online survey. If the housing shortage has impacted you or your business, take 10 minutes to share your input before Feb. 29 at www.NevadaCountyCA.gov/HousingSurvey. Results of the survey will be used to inform the county’s policy decisions regarding housing.
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