New Campus Shelter Confusion and Challenges

As sweeps followed sweeps at main tent villages with the opening of the new Cares Campus, one of our volunteer citizen reporters contacted various media, politicians, and shelter operators to find out why there was so much confusion about available spots for single women at the massive sprung structure. Are there beds still available for them at Our Place? Just a few, it seems. Is there a space for them at the campus? A small one, it seems. Many expressed confusion themselves or offered conflicting information. Why aren’t there more spots for single women at the giant new shelter? Why this communications confusion? In some of the responses, there was also some ping ponging of accountability from Reno back to Washoe County, which is in charge of the Our Place RISE run campus for women. Among those being swept, there has been disappointment that the new Washoe County “safe camp” at the Cares campus location isn’t open yet, and that initial indications are that it will be quite small. Many we’ve interviewed without stable shelter say they are willing to give that experiment a try, but only if it feels welcoming and not too crammed or stress inducing.

A new tent village is being set up further southeast at N Edison Way and Mill Street, but people there have already been told by police it will be disbanded in a week. Advocates said they tried to set up a porta potty but that police prevented them from doing so. Some in this new camp have cars and RVs but can’t afford rent on their fixed income. Advocates have pleaded for safe parking spots in northern Nevada, but that doesn’t seem to be on the agenda. Talk by Reno’s city council of looking into implementing a possible local Right to Rest Act seems to be just talk at this point. Some answers might be offered at the June CHAB meeting, which was skipped in May.

Our podcast this week was about a social justice group, Project Unity, launched by two local Latinas in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. You can also find our latest podcast episode by searching for Our Town Reno where you get your podcasts. Our most viewed and commented photo on our Instagram this week was of a BLM protest sign in someone’s apartment window in Reno.

We also highlighted a local professional women’s group regularly donating thousands of dollars to local nonprofits.

Here’s our reporting on the biggest sweep yet, from earlier this week, which included a mini documentary.