Safe Camp Winter Plan 2021 - 2022

Below are the steps Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services is taking at Safe Camp to help prepare our participants for the lowering temperatures and inclement weather:

  • Safe Camp staff remain dedicated to having housing focused conversations with our participants and encouraging them to pursue stable housing options as soon as possible.
  • To meet immediate needs, Washoe County has purchased blankets, gloves, socks and hats for Safe Camp staff to provide to all participants in the camp. Additionally, new tents have been procured to replace the ones that have been ripped, damaged or have broken zippers. Hot coffee and water are provided every morning, afternoon, and evening for the participants to access. Safe Camp staff has also been providing hand warmers to the participants who request them.
  • In the event temperatures dip below 32 º F, Safe Camp staff are regularly checking in with participants. Safe Camp staff check participants in the camp, provide information about the upcoming cold, hand out supplies when possible to do so, and encourage participants to access the resources available to them.

In addition to these steps, Washoe County’s emergency intervention and prevention strategies for the pilot Safe Camp program will be activated in a methodical approach as outlined below:

Transition from tent to Individual Shelters 

Currently, Safe Camp participants are provided with a tent, sleeping bag and a cot to sleep on in a specific location within the Safe Camp. As the team has been assessing this pilot program and to protect our participants from the weather, Washoe County has purchased individual units, ModPods, that will arrive at the end of November/ beginning of December.  These shelters will replace the tents moving forward. The individual units are insulated and provide heating and cooling in addition to access to electrical outlets for personal devices. As soon as the units arrive, they will be installed in the current temporary site, above the bowl (Governor's Bowl), while construction efforts continue in the permanent site, and then relocated to the permanent location in the completed Safe Camp site.

Dec. 7, 2021 

Due to logistical shortages nationwide, these ModPod individual units have been delayed to the end of December 2021.

On Dec. 7, 2021 the Reno Housing Authority (RHA) agreed to lease land and two buildings adjacent to the Nevada Cares Campus on 4th Street in Reno to Washoe County for approximately six months. RHA held an emergency meeting to expedite this agreement with Washoe County to allow immediate use in anticipation of the extreme cold weather expected.

One of these buildings includes a heated garage building. Staff will set up and move the Safe Camp participants, their tents and belongings into the heated garage for additional protection from winter weather until the ModPods arrive. 

Dec. 8, 2021 

On Dec. 8, 2021 staff moved the Safe Camp participants, their tents and belongings into the heated garage bays for additional protection from winter weather until the ModPods arrive. Overnight the temperature remains above 50º F. 

WCSC---Garage-Bays2.jpg

WCSC---Garage-Bays1.jpg

Dec. 21, 2021 

The first set of 10 ModPods are due to be delivered Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. However due to weather conditions staff will not be able to assemble these. Weather permitting we are planning to install these early next week.

Jan. 03, 2022

The first set of 10 ModPods were delivered. However due to weather conditions staff will not be able to assemble these. Weather permitting we are planning to tentatively install these Jan. 10. Additional trucks will arrive each week for the next 4 weeks. 

 All ModPod updates will be posted on this page

Last Revised 01/20/2022

Additional Information 

If you are interested in additional information on the Nevada Cares Campus Safe Camp Program, please contact Austin Solheim, Homeless Services Program Specialist, Office of the County Manager at RegionalHomelessServices@washoecounty.gov.