LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The city of Las Vegas is developing affordable housing for healthcare workers and students in an effort to address what officials say is a significant staffing shortage in southern Nevada.
They are making healthcare a priority to strengthen the economy and meet growing demand.
A groundbreaking was held last month for The Oscar, a 256-unit housing development in the medical district. Some units will be set aside as affordable housing specifically designed for healthcare professionals.
“I recently did a tour of the ER at University Medical Center and I talked with a handful of the interns and the residents,” said Brian Knudsen, councilman for the City of Las Vegas, Ward 1. “And they simply can’t afford to live in that area.”
City invests in medical district infrastructure
The city has prioritized the medical district with about $150 million in infrastructure improvements.
“We simply don’t have enough health care professionals,” Knudsen said.
Medical professionals say housing for healthcare students and workers is needed, especially as UNLV’s School of Medicine continues to grow.
“Cost of transportation, cost of insurance, gas and so forth,” Dr. James Mah a professor of clinical sciences at UNLV said. “It adds up and already a lot of students and residents are carrying significant amount of debt. So reducing the cost of transportation and so forth is a big advantage.”
The city is also planning a hotel in the district so families have a place to stay while visiting students or loved ones receiving care.
“And in the next couple of years, I’m very excited to announce that we’ll have a hotel, the first of its kind, in the Medical District,” Knudsen said.
UNLV faculty say many students are international and don’t have a car. With busy schedules, housing close by can help.
“And often, you know, there’s study sessions and things that they go in after hours,” said Mah. “So really to spend your time studying and really working on your education instead of in a commute is really invaluable.”
The city says they will be responsible for making sure a certain percentage of units stay affordable throughout the life of the building. Officials expect The Oscar to become available in about two years.
UNLV says it is recruiting future medical students locally, including outreach to high schoolers. The dental school says as many as 70 percent of admissions are from Las Vegas.
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