Since 2021, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement (HOPE) Team has been working to address the homeless issue in our community.

Earlier, this year, we took you behind the scenes of what the deputies do, but now we take a look at the two case managers.

Charles Tolbert has been doing this for two years now with the team after working in Child Protective Services for many years.

"Just ever since I was a kid, I had a hard time myself and when I went to college, I took a social work class and it really resonated with me and I've been a social worker ever since," Tolbert said.

Case Manager Sandra Uriarte has only been with the HOPE Team for about a month.

She worked as a legal guardian for the county before making the switch.

"I would say that it's going out into the community more," Uriarte said. "Working with individuals who don't understand the resources that are available to them."

Monday and Tuesday, the two will ride out with the deputies and make stops to the clients on their case load or for calls for service.

Throughout the trips, the two are constantly answering the phone or texting to try and keep up with their workload.

For them, it's a rinse and repeat approach.

"It's all about the rapport building because sometimes you meet an individual three or four times and they're not ready to trust you but by that fifth time, when they're ready, it's time," Tolbert said. "I'm ready, if they're ready." 

There are some big barriers in our community the two see while trying to help their clients.

"Affordable housing has been the biggest issue I think," Tolbert said. "The hardest part is there is only one of me. I mean, there are a lot of people that are in need, and we just need more resources to be able to help everybody."

"I always knew that mental health was going to be a big issue with the homeless population," Uriarte said. "That's kind of proven to be true and there are a lack of resources, especially for the mental health."

The two are working diligently to help our homeless population get in better situations.

"I've seen over 260 people that have, over the past two years, that didn't want the help, but I've housed over 130 people that did want the help," Tolbert said.

The two say that working with other community partners is crucial.

So, on Wednesdays, the case managers go to Community Court, run by the Reno Municipal Court at the Downtown Reno Library. 

The HOPE Team and other community agencies will set up a table to provide resources for people in need.

"Only thing about this setting is it's a one stop shop," Tolbert said. "So, then we can point individuals that we are working with straight to the source where they might be able to get help to get housed. So, like I said, I love this place because it makes it a little easier for us to be honest."

All the partners can help each other out, but the HOPE Team is looking to aid in one particular area.

"So, as part of the HOPE team, it's housing," Uriarte said. "Housing first. So that's what we're looking at, so we are meeting with individuals making that first official contact getting some basic information. Name, date of birth, if they have income."

Community Court started in 2019 but quickly had to shut down due to the pandemic.

In 2021, they were able to bring it back.

"We are dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in our community," said Andrew Sherbondy, Court Program Manager, Reno Municipal Court. "We really work to create a low barrier, low stress environment, so that we can take care of the administration of justice while focusing on things that they really need, which is compassion and support."

Clients will typically be referred by a police officer after committing a misdemeanor or a low-level crime.

"So, they'll be cited into the program," Sherbondy said. "They are not taken to jail. They are not taken to jail. They are not put in handcuffs. They are given a referral essentially, you need to show up to court. You need to show up for resources so we can address this issue, so you don't have to keep living this way."

First, clients meet with one of the judges to discuss their case, but unlike regular court, where people can be punished for their actions, this takes a different approach.

"We have reimagined criminal justice as it pertains to our homelessness community," said Judge Christopher Hazlett-Stevens, Community Court, Reno Municipal Court. "You see me. I am the judge, and I am here in a jacket and a polo shirt."

The Judge says the biggest issues he sees is that those in need often resist services, specifically to substance and mental health treatments, but he says once they climb out of that, they are usually more likely to get the help they need.

The court also gives patience and plenty of second chances.

"Nobody goes to jail in this court," Judge Hazlett-Stevens said. "Even if they have an active warrant for not appearing in our court. We'll work with that. Worst case scenario they might have to do some community service."

The Judge says the point of the court is to remove obstacles and create immediate access to resources for our homeless population.

The rest of the week for the case managers consists of them continuously working to find help for the homeless.

They say every day always brings something new and different.