Carson City area donors raise $80K for FISH student housing project, match campaign extended
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Mon, 02/06/2023 - 11:50am
A student housing revitalization project through Friends in Service Helping, that is currently taking shape on North Carson Street in Carson City, is extending a contribution campaign after successfully collecting $80,000 in matched donations.
Construction is moving fast on the project located at 1421 N. Carson Street. Carson City residents might know Friends in Service Helping, or “FISH,” for their thrift stores and food bank, but the new project with big, long-term goals of helping a higher level of client, is finally taking shape on Carson City’s main street. The FISH Student Housing Project completion is planned for Fall 2023.
The time has come to make an even bigger impact on the members of this community that will not only give them the tools to survive but also the confidence to achieve a stable life they once thought was not possible in their circumstances. That is where FISH continues to step-in and step-up.
The most significant issues in our region are the lack of affordable housing and skilled labor to fill jobs that regional employers require. FISH believes the best approach is not to build more affordable housing, but to develop a workforce that doesn't rely on affordable housing.
This program is going to help single parent families (and others) make ends meet and it helps to end the cycle of generational poverty. When children see their parents put in the work needed to build sustainability they are learning how to do the same for themselves and their future families.
Perhaps you have even seen the construction off of N. Carson Street by Donuts To Go. The FISH Student Housing Project will have 36 apartments dedicated to growing our regional labor force. FISH will provide wrap-around services, as needed, for these underemployed individuals earning college-level technical certifications. We will move families from minimum wage to meaningful careers. After students are established in their new careers, they will transition to other housing.
This career training includes, but is not limited to: Healthcare, Construction Management, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Journeymen Electrician, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), and CDL Truck Driving. The program will provide education resulting in technical certifications providing the opportunity to join firms that provide insurance and educational benefits.
“We are revitalizing Carson City and are providing training to the local labor force so they can fill higher-paying open positions in the area,” said Executive Director Jim Peckham. He adds, “the important thing for us is to help people who are underemployed. Lending a helping hand for clients to gain technical training helps renew our workforce which boosts our economy.”
Families who join the program will live in the dorms while they complete their school program, while other students who are taking similar classes, may also be able to live in the dorms based on availability. FISH partners with Western Nevada College to offer education and placement in several needed technical careers, and with the Capitol C.I.R.C.L.E.S. Initiative to train these families in life skills and to connect them with mentors.
Ready to join hundreds of local community supporters to take a bite out of generational poverty? Click the link below and your contribution will be DOUBLED.
About FISH
For 44 years, FISH has been working to meet the needs of those in need by providing various resources and referrals to help individuals and families overcome the hardships they face. Our goal is to ensure that those willing to help themselves will not go without necessities crucial to obtaining dignity and self-sufficiency. Our social workers, doctors, nurses, and other staff/ volunteers have earned us multiple honors in our region. We develop individual plans for our clients to identify their needs and provide appropriate care/training, so they accomplish individual goals to change behaviors. With changed behaviors, clients change their lives.
