Reno tent city for homeless to be dismantled for parking lot

RENO -- A tent city for homeless people near downtown will be dismantled in September to make way for a parking lot at the homeless services complex to open this fall, Reno officials said.

The camp emerged after emergency overflow winter shelters closed in April. City officials say they are looking for an alternative site for an overflow shelter.

In recent days, about 160 people were registered to sleep in the tent area.

Jodi Royal-Goodwin, Reno Redevelopment Agency community reinvestment manager, is looking for an alternative site for the overnight overflow shelter, saying it could be indoors or outdoors. She said city officials hope Washoe County will continue to provide a winter overflow shelter.

The space taken by the tent city is required for parking to open a homeless resource-family shelter building in October. Royal-Goodwin said a new day shelter would be built east of that building.

Reno staff is seeking City Council approval today to make preparations for that outdoor shelter, including more fencing.

With that and other costs, the city is looking at a $1.1 million shortfall in operating the center over the coming year, including a men's drop-in shelter, a new women's shelter, triage center and the new building.

Included is a security officer on the grounds 24 hours, costing an estimated $145,000.

Reno officials had anticipated Washoe County would help with more of the expenses. But with the county facing severe budget cuts, much of the burden is on the city.

City officials also hoped that Project ReStart would open the family shelter, but it backed out. In the meantime, a contract with the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission to continue operating the men's overflow shelter is to be extended beyond July 2 through Sept. 1.