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Public commenters and county officials split over replacing Our Place operator; Volunteers of America, RISE draw competing endorsements
Summary
Community speakers, volunteers and former staff debated the county's plan to replace nonprofit operator RISE with Volunteers of America to manage the Our Place shelter. Supporters touted VOA's experience; opponents raised concerns about process, transparency and increased contract cost.
The management of Our Place, Washoe County's family shelter, drew repeated public comment at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 20 as speakers urged different outcomes while a county review of contracts and operators remains underway.
Multiple speakers endorsed Volunteers of America (VOA) as a contract operator for Our Place, while longtime volunteers and former staff urged retaining RISE or demanded more transparency about cost and process.
Support for VOA Travis Sandefer, regional vice president of Volunteers of America, told the board: "If you vote to approve VOA's contract as the operator of Our Place, we will partner alongside you to face whatever challenges come our way, and we will always keep the clients as our highest priority during the transition and even beyond." He described VOA's commitment to operational improvement and compassion during transitions.
Pat Cashel, who…
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