Reno Works Program is Being Suspended Due to Lack of Funds
One of the yearly celebrated programs to help people who have experienced life on the streets locally, Reno Works, is currently suspended due to funding issues.
The program would regularly get mentions in local media when a new cohort graduated with a ceremony. Names were not released though so it was hard to track the success of how graduates fared after completion of the program.
"Reno Works was allocated $50,000 from the City in the last fiscal year, which partially funded the Fall 2025 cohort,” the City of Reno indicated to Our Town Reno today.
“However, sufficient funding was not available to support the Spring 2026 cohort, and the program is currently on pause. Because Reno Works operates in scheduled cohorts that must be fully funded before launch, full resources need to be in place to ensure participants receive comprehensive support.”
Since it started in 2015, Reno Works participants worked with the City of Reno Public Works and Parks & Recreation Departments to help with cleanup projects and maintenance work along the Truckee River, in downtown, and in parks. On the days they didn’t working, participants spent time in workshops, job searching, and looking for housing. At graduation they received housing assistance and case management support, according to the City of Reno website.
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“For several years, the program has received $50,000 annually from the City’s General Fund, supplemented by fundraising from Volunteers of America (VOA). The program has also relied on external fundraising support, which has varied in recent years. At this time, the City’s General Fund revenues are less than the general fund expenses, making it challenging to identify additional City resources to fully fund a new cohort. At the same time, the average cost per cohort has increased to approximately $77,000 due to enhanced wrap-around services that improve participant outcomes,” the statement we received today indicated.
“The City Council will provide direction during the upcoming budget workshops on next steps for the program. In the meantime, City staff will continue exploring grants and other external resources to best support housing stability in Reno."
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