LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and it saw one of the largest increases in homeless veterans last year.
Service to their country comes with services to them and their families, though it’s another battle to get some vets to use those services. Many don’t even know about them.
Melissa Piza has held her family’s fort down for a decade while her husband, a member of the U.S. Navy, was away. She describes the past 10 years as a back-and-forth from Las Vegas and North Carolina, Illinois, Texas and other locations where he was stationed so their children, now 14 and 10 years old, could have a relationship with him.
“Things just seem to get harder and harder,” Piza said, tears welling in her eyes. “Each time I speak to (a real estate agent or lender), it’s something completely different and it kind of just makes you feel overwhelmed, and I just don’t want to deal with any of it.”
Renting, to her, felt like the only option for housing. But, it didn’t need to be.
Trevor Otsuka, a Barrett Financial loan officer, and Brenton Mann, a Wardley Real Estate agent, are both veterans. Each said when they left service, a class was provided to them to learn about the benefits they then received.
That included a pathway to homeownership.
“Years ago, they didn’t have that, so a lot of the older vets don’t understand what they qualify for,” Mann said near downtown Las Vegas.
“A lot of the questions are, ‘Well how do I even get started?’” Otsuka added.
That pathway is a loan with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more commonly called the VA. The duo began teaching classes to veterans about these loans after identifying a lack of local veterans utilizing them.
“It requires no downpayment, there’s no mortgage insurance on this particular product, and the consumer also benefits from having some of the lowest interest rates that are available in the market,” Otsuka said.
“They have something that they own, something that brings them value, and something that could potentially build generational wealth for them in the future,” Mann added. “The hardest part about getting the word out would be the fact that people don’t know to ask those questions.”
Some may choose not to ask those questions from years of innate skepticism.
That’s according to Jimmy DePew, a veteran activity coordinator with U.S. VETS Las Vegas. He says “a lot” of those veterans he associates with daily are experiencing homelessness.
The most recent homelessness report to Congress from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated 1,094 homeless veterans across Nevada. A majority – 912 people – are in Las Vegas. That is 3% of all homeless veterans in the nation.
Nevada saw the largest increase of homeless veterans from 2022 to 2023.
“I think it’s more of a hesitation, because a lot of them through their life experiences haven’t always had the people out there with their best intentions,” DePew said inside U.S. VETS Las Vegas. “I think the stigma of that comes from being a veteran and someone trying to help me, ‘Well, what’s in it for you?’”
The veteran homebuying classes began just in July. The Piza family, who attended the first class, is now on the brink of turning from renters to homebuyers while overlooking any potential hesitations.
Melissa’s husband, now in the reserve, is also transitioning back to civilian life. They’re making their home base, a home.
“When someone comes and is kind and really takes care of you and has your best interests in mind, it gives you relief. It’s like a weight off your shoulders,” Piza said, smiling.
As of 2016, the VA said only 6% of veterans used a VA loan to purchase a house.
Those interested in attending a future veteran homebuying class at U.S. VETS are encouraged to contact Mann at Brenton@realtyvet.com.
