Safe Embrace is appealing to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners to increase its shelter capacity.
The nonprofit houses domestic and sexual assault victims.
Today, a public hearing was scheduled for the appeal, but it was moved to November, to give Safe Embrace more time to prepare for the hearing.
This appeal comes after the Washoe County Board of Adjustments denied their motion a couple months ago.
Back in August, Safe Embrace went to the Board of Adjustments for a special use permit.
The permit would allow for the shelter to house 18 victims. They currently can only have 10.
The board split the vote, two for and two against, so it was denied.
The board brought up issues with size of bedrooms at the shelter and neighbor concerns.
"We have both sides," said Clay Thomas, former Board of Adjustment Member. "They provide a service, but yet within their own community they're not, it does not appear they're being receptive or that's what we've been given to believe, they're not receptive to the needs of their residents there."
Since the Board of Adjustments denied the permit, Safe Embrace is appealing to the Board of Commissioners on the decision.
The nonprofit believes that having more beds in the shelter will allow them to help more people.
"Our goal is to get running capacity, helping as many victims and survivors and their families out of that situation," said Vickie Dimambro, Board Member for Safe Embrace.
For Dimambro, those struggles hit close to home.
"I am a former victim," she said. "I am a survivor, and you can't understand what those people, and it's men and women, what they experience and deal with day to day."
She says timing can be crucial on when someone may need help.
"We need to be there for them, we need to have housing to help them escape because they may get one chance that's it," Dimambro said.
Again, Safe Embrace is scheduled to appeal to Board of Commissioners for their permit in November.
We'll make sure to keep you updated on this case as we get further developments moving forward.
