The Nevada CARES Campus has officially completed their permanent supportive housing project using a $21.9 million Home Means Nevada Initiative grant.
This special housing project will serve chronically homeless neighbors with disabilities.
All 50 studio units are designed to allow tenants to live independently with their own kitchen, bathroom, and bed. There are also indoor and outdoor common areas with a centralized laundry room and services offered by the campus.
Dana Searcy, Division Director of Washoe County Human Services Agency, says, "On site there will be access to a psychiatrist and mental health staff."
Searcy says this project will actually help reduce costs to the public.
"A lot of individuals, they find themselves cycling through trips to the emergency room and other services in the region. If can provide the correct amount of services where they live, then it's not necessary."
Tenants do have to pay a monthly rent but the cost depends on their finances. Searcy says rent will be one-third of whatever their disability payments are.
Tenants can live here as long as they like.
"The staff here are assessing people's ability to live independently and as long as they need to stay here, they'll stay here."
With so many people continuing to struggle with housing costs, Washoe County says they are working provide more support to the most vulnerable people in our community.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony Chair Alexis Hill, Washoe County Commission, states, "We need about 1,100 more permanent supportive housing units in this community and we are working very closely with all of our partners to see how we can make that happen."
There is another permanent supportive housing project currently being built right next door. Although it is not owned by Nevada CARES Campus, they say they're looking forward to seeing more people-in-need out of shelters and into homes.
The Nevada Cares Campus says it's expecting to start moving in tenants next month.
