The Associated Press

Thu, Sep 25, 2008 (8:36 a.m.)

After decades of struggle, a new homeless complex is about to become a reality.

The Reno City Council on Wednesday approved $1.4 million in contracts to operate separate homeless shelters for men, women and families.

With the facilities complete and funding in place, officials said the campus on Record Street downtown should be fully operational by Oct. 15.

In a single vote, the council approved four contracts that included operating shelters for up to 330 people, security and food services as well as three leases for nonprofit agencies.

"With a snap of the fingers, it was done after fighting year after year," said Michael Rodolico, director of the Health Access Washoe County Community Clinic. "It's really amazing. I think the mayor doesn't gets enough credit."

In 2004, Mayor Bob Cashell won council support to move the shelter from an approved site he considered dangerous to city owned property on Record Street, just off East Fourth Street.

After that, nonprofit groups serving the homeless committed to providing services and local foundations chipped in millions of dollars at the mayor's urging. Federal grants also were used to build the $26 million campus.

The agreement among Reno, Sparks and Washoe County spelled out support for the project, putting Reno in the lead.

A three-story building providing a family shelter on the third floor and a fenced playground on the roof is now completed.

The HAWC clinic, Project ReStart, which provides services for the mentally ill, the Good Shepherd's Clothes Closet and offices for job counseling, veterans and other services will be made available on the first and second floors.

A women's shelter completed last spring also will open soon on the first floor of the existing men's shelter that opened in 2005.

The city also built facilities for St. Vincent's Dining Hall and the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. In all, up to 800 people a day are expected to be on campus.

People now living in tents on the property will be absorbed by the shelters, said Jodi Royal-Goodwin, the city's homeless services coordinator. An overflow shelter on Edison Way will open in a few weeks and remain open through March.

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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com