Nye County to host free Pahrump social services fair May 6

Pahrump residents who need help with rent, food, benefits or disability services will have one place to sort through the options at Nye County’s 11th Annual Social Services Fair. The free event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at the Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 Highway 160.

Nye County Health and Human Services said the fair is meant to connect people with local and state resources that can be hard to track down on their own. The list of agencies includes Social Security, Nevada Veterans Services, Aging and Disability Services, WIC, hospice care providers, homeless resource programs, NyE Communities Coalition, Nevada Outreach, Nevada Legal Services, the Public Guardian and USDA Rural Development. County HHS staff will also be on hand to answer questions and help direct visitors to programs that fit their situation.

The practical value is immediate for residents dealing with urgent needs. Nye County Health and Human Services says its basic assistance can include food, transportation costs for medical appointments and supportive services, rent, utilities, utility deposits, medication, child care and hygiene kits, depending on grant funding and eligibility. The department also lists programs for Long-Term Care, Medical Indigent assistance, Ryan White Funds for HIV/AIDS, Sexual Assault Victims’ Assistance and the CSBG Employment Incentive Program.

For many people, the fair can replace a long search across multiple offices with a single visit. A senior trying to understand aging services, a veteran looking for benefits, a family facing a housing crisis, or someone who needs legal help or a referral for health care can meet agency representatives face to face and leave with next steps instead of a stack of phone numbers.

The event has become a steady fixture in Pahrump. Nye County described last year’s event as the 10th annual fair, and earlier fairs were held in 2022 as the 7th annual event and in 2021 as the 6th annual event, when the county shifted to a drive-thru format during the pandemic. That 2021 fair drew more than 200 families and individuals and included more than 10 COVID vaccinations and community surveys. In 2022, more than three dozen local businesses and organizations took part, and the 2024 fair featured about 60 vendors. Karyn Smith, who is listed in the county’s HHS directory as human services director and public guardian, has repeatedly tied the event to the county’s effort to make services easier to find in Nye County.