Rising Homelessness in Reno Sparks Debate Over Policies and Solutions
Thomas, who sleeps in his van, has mastered the art of not drawing attention. He believes it’s relatively simple if one is cautious, keeping belongings out of sight and frequently relocating. His lifestyle wasn’t always this way; just five years ago, he was in medical sales, working 60-hour weeks that eventually led him to quit and travel across the country, staying wherever he could.
“Si me quedara aquí, me iría temprano, aunque sea un parque. Suena raro, pero simplemente iría a otro parque”, dijo.
Thomas intended to stay in the area for just a few nights before visiting a friend in Las Vegas. “That was two years ago,” he admits. His reliance on gig work through platforms like DoorDash and Instacart hit a snag when his phone broke, setting him back significantly.
He recalls staying by a lakeside park with friends until they attracted too much attention and had to move. “Now it’s definitely harder,” he says. “There are very few places to go, especially if you’re not careful with what you do.”
This increased difficulty is attributed to stricter homelessness policies implemented by Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County early last year. Officials claim these measures aim to guide more people to shelters rather than jail. However, public records indicate a rise in incarcerations as the new ordinances came into effect.
Studies have shown a correlation between rising housing prices and homelessness. In Reno-Sparks, the average rent increased from $1,341 in early 2020 to $1,681 this year, according to appraisal firm Johnson Perkins Griffin.
In 2024, Washoe County recorded 1,760 people without housing, a record at the time. Recent monthly data reports from the region indicate an increase to 2,187 homeless individuals last month.
In March 2024, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam successfully advocated for a camping ban along the Truckee River and in vehicles. He explained, “The way the ordinance is written and how the team operates is that we make contact, they build that relationship… and then they say, ‘All right, let’s get you where those resources are.’”
Following this, only one citation has been issued under the ordinance, as Balaam’s office worked out an arrangement to refer individuals to Reno’s community court, offering addiction recovery, housing, and Medicaid services. However, the court is now set to close.
“The upcoming closure of the Community Court is unfortunate news,” Balaam stated. “The weekly one-stop service meeting has been an effective tool, and our team is already in discussions with stakeholders to ensure this resource continues.”
Despite these efforts, the jail population of people with no known address has risen, from 2,159 in 2020 to 3,049 last year, even as overall admissions decline. The Washoe County Jail, managed by Balaam’s office, does not track inmates’ housing status upon intake, which complicates assessments of homelessness.
“Most likely, without diving deeper, [it’s due to] the way our booking system is structured,” Balaam noted. “That’s not included.”
Leah Wang from the Prison Policy Initiative suggests another reason for this lack of data: “I think ultimately, jail authorities don’t want to admit how many homeless people they are incarcerating.” Her analysis of national data reveals that homeless individuals are more likely to return to jail and tend to stay longer.
Wang’s research encompasses only those jails that explicitly identify inmates as homeless, a rarity. She claims that Washoe County’s approach is more common nationwide. “Unfortunately, most jails simply don’t track it,” she said. “And probably won’t for some time.”
Community activist Alanah Fanning contends that the new ordinances deter people from seeking services. Last winter, she helped manage warming centers for unhoused women in Reno. “I think there’s maybe a fear, probably, that they’ll be taken to jail and it could all be some kind of trick,” she said. “I get it, I’d be scared too.”
According to Fanning, if authorities truly want to reduce street homelessness, they should focus on rent caps and affordable housing rather than criminal penalties.
