The Self-Sufficiency Standard is an alternative to using poverty as an affordability measure. It defines the hourly, monthly, and annual amount of income necessary to meet the basic needs of working families in Nevada without public or private assistance. The Standard calculates the minimum cost of living for working families by county, age of children and number of adults in the household. 

The Self-Sufficiency Standard can be used to clearly illustrate the drastic increase in what working families need to make to meet basic needs. From 2021 to 2024, the hourly rate to meet basic needs in Washoe County for 1 adult with 1 infant and 1 preschooler increased 38.9%. 

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