Safe Camp Admission and Criteria

Program Model

The Safe Camp is intended to provide a safe location for camping that is secure and provides basic facilities including restrooms, handwashing facilities and trash disposal.  While there is very limited eligibility criteria to camp at the Safe Camp, the goal of the program is to provide as low barrier of a campground as possible from which relationships with service providers can be built to facilitate a transition to more appropriate permanent housing. 

The Safe Camp is not intended to be a permanent destination, but rather a safe location with basic services from which to housing referrals can be facilitated.  The goal for all Safe Camp participants is to move into stable, independent housing as soon as possible.

Admission Process 

The Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services (WCHHS) team is committed to distributing applications for admittance to the Safe Camp in an equitable, efficient way that is as low barrier as possible, respectful, and inviting to Safe Camp participants.

Admission Criteria 

• To be eligible the person must be willing to work towards a housing plan and be able to manage their own activities of daily living.
• A very simple application form has been developed that asks the bare minimum amount of information needed to be able to make an admission decision and ensure the person meets the minimum criteria.

Pilot Partners

• Given this is a pilot program, we will be distributing and collecting applications through pilot partners to pilot the application process.
• Applications will ONLY be distributed to pilot partners, who are the only people that can submit an application on someone’s behalf, however, any community member can work with a pilot partner to get an application submitted.
• Pilot partner group is comprised of people who are doing outreach with an existing organization or government entity.

Pilot partners include

• City of Reno Clean and Safe Team
• Downtown Reno Partnership
• Eddy House
• Karma Box Project Executive Director
• Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality (RISE)
• Veteran’s Affairs – Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)
• Volunteers of America
• Washoe County Safe Camp Case Manager
• WCSO HOPE Team’s Outreach Case Managers

 

Application Review

• The WCHHS team will review applications for completeness.
• Pilot partners will be engaged to review the list of applications and assist in the development of the approved participant list.
• Pilot partners will assist in determining ideal move in dates and existing community groups that may desire to be placed in tent groupings in close proximity and/or have corresponding move in dates.
• Please note, there is no wait list, the application review process allows partner agencies to be informed of potential openings to connect with current unsheltered clients. 

Additional Information 

If you are interested in additional information on the Nevada Cares Campus Safe Camp, please contact Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services at:RegionalHomelessServices@washoecounty.gov.