Top headline from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners heard an update on the Our Place homeless housing project

Reno, Nev. Jan. 28, 2020. The following report highlights an important agenda item from the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:

1. Commissioners heard an update on the Our Place homeless housing project. The Washoe County Human Services Agency Director, Amber Howell, updated the Commissioners on the Our Place project including the project scope, milestones and impacts of the project.

Project scope. Our Place is where Washoe County will separate the populations to relocate homeless women, children and families away from the downtown shelter.  The Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA) partnered with the State of Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services to renovate existing buildings to serve individuals experiencing homelessness using a different model.

Milestones. In September 2019 construction began on the Our Place campus and is anticipated to be completed by spring 2020 with the goal to transition women, children, and families shortly thereafter.

Project Impacts. Our Place will enable an increased capacity to serve more individuals with a targeted approach for long-term success. Our Place will increase capacity to the following populations:

• Women’s Shelter: From 50 to 114
• New Family & Maternity Shelter: 102
• Child Care Center: From 42 to 85

Additional goals of the project include access to mental health and substance abuse resources, reduction of jail admission and emergency room visits, prevention of foster care placements and preservation of families, educational opportunities and help finding and sustaining employment.

Additionally, the Board also approved a construction manager at risk (CMAR) construction agreement with Washoe County and Q&D Construction for the fourth phase of the Our Place project. This agreement is for site improvements for the Our Place Homeless Housing Project, including ADA access, full perimeter security fence, and more.

“I’m excited to see this project come online, this will be an answer to a growing problem in our region,” said Commission Chair, Bob Lucey. “While this is progress, this is just one step that illustrates the county’s commitment to innovative ideas and to participate in solutions on homelessness for our region.”

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