Sparks City Coun

Unified Help for Our Unsheltered

Kristopher Dahir, Sparks City Councilman

When I first was elected to the Sparks City Council 5 years ago, I made the request to be placed on the Transitional Housing Board. This board was responsible for the contract for our local shelter and heard updates about the efforts as a region towards those men, woman and families that were without shelter. This board consisted of one person from the city of Reno, the Kristopher Dahir City of Sparks and Washoe County. We had many discussions of what needed to take place and each member was very dedicated to finding ways to help, but in the end we felt that we did not have enough authority or reach to truly make a difference. So, we decided to work with our elected delegates, managers and staff to create what is known as the Community Homelessness Advisory Board or CHAB. This board is comprised of two elected officials from each jurisdiction, meets monthly and asks for all of our community groups who work with this population of people to join us. Our goal was to create unity and truly learn what is happening in our region as it pertains to the unsheltered. I had the honor of chairing the board for the first year and now three years later, with the leadership of all our elected coming together, we have seen some amazing advances. I hope to share a few of our accomplishments, goals and hopes in this article. The conversation is way too long to cover in this one article and so I will give a few highlights. Please know that there are many heroes in our community that are making a difference through their non-profits, churches, schools, and everyday as it pertains to this unique conversation. One of the most significant accomplishments that CHAB has made, was to create a chance for unity and a space where we can all work together. There were so many wonderfully hearted people working hard but without proper collaboration the efforts were not enough. However, we have seen a great shift in our region and now we are sharing data, having warm hand offs with individuals, and seeing new shelters built that will truly meet the needs that are in place. We have begun focusing in on a strategy called Built for Zero, which is a national strategy to end homelessness. This group brings our community to the table and ask for everyone to be involved. I strongly believe that government programs will never be the solution but when we join our community and all work together, miracles will take place. (Built for Zero page 5)

Zero / from page 4 Here is a link that will tell you more about the Built for Zero program: https://www.washoecounty.us/homelessness/ built-for-zero/index.php

During a concurrent meeting in November of 2020 of our three jurisdictions, we had a robust discussion regarding our shelter and approved a brand-new regional campus that we have named the Cares Campus. The total campus is a fifteen-acre site located on 4th street and Prater in the city of Reno. Ten acres of the land will be set aside to help shelter and offer wrap around services for those in need. The remaining five acres is set aside for future transitional housing. The shelter will be 46,00 square feet and will be able to house 900 people. This will not only help bring people off of the streets and river sections but will allow us to bring the services needed that many of our unsheltered so desperately need. This first phase of this new facility is slotted to open on April 16, 2021.

Though there is never a perfect answer to the complexities that surround the unsheltered, we as a region are committed to staying in the same room and working together. The link below will give you a small glimpse of the upcoming campus that is being built. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQf64RXT1FA

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