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Troy, Living in a Tent in Reno, with a Bad Back and Going Blind

Troy says he’s been in Reno since 2006 and without stable shelter for the past three years. He says he used to be a carpenter who helped build houses, but his disabilities have made it impossible for him to pursue that line of work anymore.  One of …

Troy says he’s been in Reno since 2006 and without stable shelter for the past three years. He says he used to be a carpenter who helped build houses, but his disabilities have made it impossible for him to pursue that line of work anymore. One of his prized possessions is a small solar panel he uses to charge his phone. He avoids shelters he says because he doesn’t want to be told when to wake up, and also likes to stay with his girlfriend and a dog he’s been taking care of he calls Squeaker.


I wasn't able to work anymore because of back problems. So, I mean, pretty much, you know, one thing after another, just sitting there, you end up out here

Once you come out here, you're out here and I mean, it gets easier and harder every day. I realized that it's a lot harder to do this life than it is to go out and get a job nine to five and pay your bills and whatever. But I mean, right now with the way my back is, there's no way I can do it and I'm going blind too. So, I mean, it's kind of tough for me. I got no choice.

There's a lot of good people in Reno. They bring us food out, you know, there's somebody different everyday that comes out here and brings some food and they just bring blankets. I mean, the people bring it here. And then of course there's Record Street and you know, and all that, but I don't really do much down there. I don't like it down there.


I just don't like the people that are there. I don't want to be under their thumb, be told when to get up when to go to bed. When you know, I'm a grown man. I don't need all that, but I mean, obviously I need some kind of help because I'm here. So I don't know.

Most of the time, I'm surprised we're still here. We've been here for like four months without a cop telling us to leave. And that's unheard of.

I've been out here like three years, so I mean they've [previously] told me to move 100 times, you know what I mean? So, and they're not very nice about ot.

The last time I was told to move, we were down here on this wall, this wall here, and, a police officer came in at four o'clock in the morning. So we packed our stuff in a cart and we walked off the river. We went to a friend's house for a little while and then found another spot to go to.

[The Governor’s Bowl plan?] We'll see what it looks like when they build it? I mean, if it's feasible. Yeah, sure. I mean, I've got a girl, so we're not going to be separated. That's a big part of the shelter too, is they want to separate us, you know, put us in different areas and not let us be together. And it just doesn't work for us. So that's why we're still out here in a tent because we prefer to be together

I’m thankful that I woke up breathing this morning. I mean I don't have much to be grateful for right now, but I mean, I'm happy as happy as I could possibly be, you know, that's all right. I'm grateful my girl's home.

{I’m also grateful for] this dog Squeaker who kind of adopted me. She's been hanging out with me, but she's really good. I don't like little dogs, but this one's kind of cool. She doesn't bark too much. She just came in and stayed. She's got an owner, but I'm not sure where he is. I don't care. I'll feed her and take care of her. She's a good dog.

Out here, we get high or whatever, and that's a big part of my problem too. You know what I mean? So if I were to get off that, then I’m sure that I could get my stuff taken care of and get myself back together, but it's just hasn't happened yet.

My eye sight is more detrimental right now [than my bad back]. And that is like a five month waiting period just to get into the surgeon. I’m going blind soon. I have to make a new appointment because something happened last time and I wasn't able to make the appointment. I didn't have a ride. Didn't have anybody to come with me.

The pandemic hasn't been dissipated and it's harder to do things, you know? So I don't know, but I don't want to talk about politics.


First Person Reporting by Richard Bednarski for Our Town Reno

Monday 12.07.20
Posted by Nicolas Colombant
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