Paying It Forward
With the help of the Eddy House, Philipp was able to re-enroll at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), get a certificate as a community health worker and last month landed a job.
“I would like to help the kids in the community just fresh out of high school to know they have abilities and all these people who actually do care, who want to help them with Medicaid, food stamps, getting their ID and all that, just so they know the resources are there for them,” he said at the time of our interview.
The Eddy House on 6th street offers many services, but one gap is overnight sleeping options for youths and young adults not allowed or not wanting to stay at regular shelters.
Sleep Deprived
As teenagers under 18 who are on their own have no legal shelter options, while young adults shun homeless shelters because of safety concerns, Philipp says sleeping is a big problem for youths in Reno without a stable home to go to.
“There’s a lot of kids sleeping in the park. There’s kids sleeping in the streets. There are some kids that don’t even sleep. They are just at the bus station all night,” he said.
The Eddy House does offer many services during the day, which Philipp has benefited from.
Finding Peace and Growth at The Eddy House
Philipp says the Eddy House gives kids and young adults a place to shower, to get a fresh change of clothes, food stamps if they need them, snacks, and even a quiet place to sleep during the day. Philipp likes to bring his Xbox 360 to play with other in the Eddy House’s chill out room, to get away he says from harsh realities and family complications from time to time.
“This is one of the greatest places in Reno,” he said of the Eddy House. “We never know what tomorrow is going to be like, so we might as well make ourselves better through this type of program.”