Volunteers of America and City of Reno unveil Reno Works program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 6, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — New employment program helps homeless shelter residents obtain housing.
WHAT: A joint press conference by Volunteers of America (VOA) Northern Nevada, the City of Reno, and Washoe County will take place outside the Men’s Shelter on the Community Assistance Center (CAC) campus.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: 315 Record Street in Reno
WHO: Remarks will be made by Pat Cashell, Regional Director, Volunteers of America; Neoma Jardon, Ward 5 Reno City Councilmember; and Kitty Jung, District 3 Washoe County Commissioner.
About the project: Reno Works is a joint employment program by VOA and the City of Reno that will provide 20 residents of the homeless shelters with nine-week sessions to address temporary employment including safety and work training, skills training, long-term employment support, wrap-around case management, and mentoring. The program was approved by Reno City Council at the August 26, 2015 regular meeting.
Upon completion of the program, crew members will receive certification of program completion and a letter of recommendation. The goal is for each crew member to secure employment and permanent housing.
“Many shelter residents want a job desperately, but face many obstacles that prevent them from working,” says Pat Cashell, Regional Director of Volunteers of America. “This program will help remove those barriers so they can obtain employment and feel the pride of standing on their own feet again.”
“I’m excited about this initiative and looking forward to it being successful.” says Ward 5 Reno City Councilmember Neoma Jardon, who was instrumental in coming up with the idea for the program. “The public has expected something creative and different from us, so I’m glad that we have committed funding to this. It’s not only about instilling pride in the workers from a good hard-day’s work, but also cleaning up the river for the community.”
“Washoe County has compassion for our homeless, and we are happy to see such a unique idea come to fruition that we believe will help them,” District 3 Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung says. “This is a great way to support our homeless by helping them acquire the resources needed to be successful members of society. I want to thank Volunteers of America and the City of Reno for their collaboration on such a creative program.”
For more information contact,
City of Reno
Mary-Sarah Kinner
Public Relations Coordinator
o: 775-326-6664 • c: 775-354-8780
or
Volunteers of America
Sandy Isham
Senior Development & Community Relations Officer
sisham (at) voa-ncnn (dot) org
o: 775-322-7143 • c: 775-560-6888
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About the Community Assistance Center:
At the Community Assistance Center in downtown Reno, Volunteers of America operates the Family Shelter, Men’s Shelter, Women’s Shelter, Resource Center, and ReStart programs, serving more than 7,700 people each year. Community partnerships are crucial to creating a strong financial foundation that will protect and expand programs serving our community. There is a Cooperative Agreement for services related to the operation of the Community Assistance Center among the City of Reno, Washoe County, and the City of Sparks.
About Volunteers of America:
Established nationally in 1896, the Northern California and the Northern Nevada affiliate of Volunteers of America is one of the largest providers of social services in the region, operating programs dedicated to ending homelessness, supporting the most vulnerable populations and transforming communities into safer healthier places. To learn more, visit voa-ncnn.org or call 775-322-7143.
About the City of Reno:
The City of Reno government’s mission is to efficiently provide the highest level of service responsive to our community. In order to achieve that purpose, the Reno City Council has established five key priorities: Vibrant Downtown, Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, Planned Growth, Fiscal Stability and Sustainable Services, and Predictable and Accessible Business Environment. To learn more, visit Reno.gov or call 775-334-INFO (4636).
About Washoe County:
Washoe County is located along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in western Nevada. The County covers an area of 6,600 square miles in the northwest section of Nevada bordering California and Oregon and has a population of approximately 435,000. The County is managed by five Commissioners overseeing 24 departments. In addition, there are seven elected County Officials: DA, Sheriff, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder, Assessor, Public Administrator. The County also has an elected Constable who serves the Incline Justice Court at Lake Tahoe. More than 2,500 Washoe County employees join County officials in serving the public through a variety of services. To learn more, visitwashoecounty.us or call 775-328-2000.
