Carson City 'Night off the Street' homeless shelter begins Friday

With night time temperatures now well below freezing, Carson City's shelter for the homeless program "Night Off the Streets," will open its doors beginning Friday night.

The shelter is made possible through six Carson City churches that rotate every month beginning Nov. 1 and then running nightly through March 31. The churches are First United Methodist, Connected Naz, First Presbyterian, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community, St. Peter's Episcopal and St. Paul's Lutheran.

This will be the fourth year for instituting a nightly shelter, which had been made available, prior to, on mornings that were forecasted to be below freezing at the Fuji Park pavilion. Since 2017, churches have stepped in to help with the cause, said Lagier.

The shelter provides a warm place to sleep, blankets, hot and cold water and decaf coffee. Those who use the shelters are encouraged to have their own sleeping bags and belongings. There is zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol on the shelter premises, and those who violate the policy are removed.

The shelter operates nightly, seven days a week, 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Those who are homeless and want a warm place for the night can do so by meeting at the parking lot of Friends in Service Helping, also known as FISH, 138 East Long Street.

The Salvation Army bus to the shelter leaves FISH at 9 p.m. sharp. Guests must leave the shelter by 6:30 a.m.

From November 2018 to March 2019, the shelter provided for 4,158 bed visits, averaging around 30 guests a night, said Craig Lagier, a Carson City Sheriff's Office chaplain who coordinates the Night Off the Streets shelter program for Carson City.

Judging by numbers, the shelter experienced a 24 percent increase in homeless from its first year. This year, the shelter is preparing for a 20 percent increase in bed visits, Lagier said.

Among last year's visits, there were 3,252 men, 898 women and 28 children (without parents or guardians) who stayed at the shelter.

Worth noting is that prior to the shelter opening, there were reported deaths in Carson City from cold weather exposure. Since the shelter has opened, there has not been a single death on the streets due to exposure, said Lagier.

"We're getting them in, we're getting them out of the cold," he said.

Lagier also notes that the Carson City Sheriff's Office says calls for police assistance have dropped dramatically when the shelter has been open.

With 151 nights ahead for this shelter run, there are at least 100 volunteers who are committed to help. Lagier said more volunteers are needed. For the safety of shelter guests there are 6 volunteers that serve as chaperones per night, two volunteers for each of the three nightly shifts, seven days a week.

Those who are interested in volunteering can contact Lagier at notscarson@gmail.com.

The shelter is also looking for donated supplies such as hand warmers and blankets. Socks, jackets, gloves and beanies, sleeping bags and thermal clothing donations are are also sought in women's, men's and children's sizes. Feminine hygiene products are also needed.

The shelter does not provide meals but does provide decaf coffee and tea. Donations of decaf tea, sugar and powered creamer, coffee cups and stirrers are accepted. To learn where to donate, email notscarson@gmail.com.

According to the Nevada Homeless Alliance and Help Hope Home organizations, the leading causes of homelessness are unemployment, inability to afford rent, disability including mental health and substance abuse disorders, life crisis or significant loss and domestic violence.