A Reno renter who kicked off a recent debate in the community about rent spikes is scheduled to speak at Bernie Sanders’s campaign rally this Wednesday.

Brooke Noble made news in Reno after she reached out to various media outlets about her rent situation. Noble talked about receiving a notice in late March from her landlord informing her that the rent for her Midtown Reno apartment was increasing from $725 to $1,050 a month — a jump of nearly 45%. Nevada law does not have a cap on how much rents can be raised.

Noble also was one of several tenants that the Reno Gazette Journal talked to as part of an investigation on rent spikes and no-cause evictions in The Biggest Little City. The investigation found a 300 percent increase in no-cause evictions from 2012 to 2017 in Washoe County. Such an eviction occurs when a renter who does not have a lease or has a lease that is about to expire is asked to leave without cause.

Noble says she was approached to speak at the campaign rally after a member of Sanders’ staff saw the Gazette Journal investigation.

“One of their campaign representatives sent me a message on Facebook and asked if I was the same Brooke who was on the RGJ,” Noble said. “That was pretty crazy.”

In addition to delivering a three- to five-minute speech at the campaign rally, Noble also will meet with Sanders’ film crew on Wednesday morning to share her perspective on Nevada’s housing issues. Noble says she decided to accept the invitation from Sanders’ campaign to help cast a bigger spotlight on the Silver State’s housing crisis — something she described as an issue that impacts all Nevadans regardless of party affiliation.

“I don’t think that this is an issue that will be solved with morality,” Noble said. “It will be solved by changing the foundation that the system is built on.”

Since sharing her story, Noble has received a huge response on various social media outlets. These include not just renters but property owners who wanted to share their side of the story, she said. Noble says she understands the challenges that property owners face and does not want to demonize them. At the same time, something needs to be done about Reno’s housing affordability crisis, she added.

Despite making more than the area median income, for example, Noble says she is priced out off a big chunk of the market. The problem is even worse for residents on fixed or lower incomes. Even new apartments can be out of reach for many longtime residents, she added.

“If people in Reno couldn’t afford these apartments, who are they building them for?” Noble said. “It makes it feel like Reno isn’t for Nevadans anymore.”

Jason Hidalgo covers business and technology for the Reno Gazette Journal, and also reviews video games as part of his Technobubble features. Follow him on Twitter @jasonhidalgo. Like this content? Support local journalism with an RGJ digital subscription.