Volunteers of America Northern California and Northern Nevada

Melissa Amaro, an Intake Screening Specialist for Supportive Services for Veterans and Families, exemplifies dedication and compassion in her role. At the front desk, she is often the first point of contact for veterans seeking assistance, offering a warm welcome and crucial support. "I greet everybody that walks through the door," she says, highlighting the importance of making individuals feel valued from the moment they enter. To read the rest of Melissa's story, click here: https://lnkd.in/gxS2ix_S

We are thrilled to share that UnitedHealthcare Health Plan Of Nevada, Inc. Medicaid has generously awarded a grant to our ReStart program in Reno! 🎉 A heartfelt thank you for their steadfast commitment to our community. Together, we're making a meaningful impact and fostering healthy communities for everyone. Your support is truly a beacon of hope! 🤝💙 #CommunitySupport #UnitedHealthcareCares #Gratitude #HealthyCommunities4All

We felt honored to be a part of the Cares Campus Welcome Center ribbon-cutting ceremony today. Our partners at Washoe County did an amazing job! Being part of such a historic and collaborative project that includes Washoe County, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, and other local providers has been incredible. We are so grateful for our dedicated staff and look forward to our continued work with those experiencing homelessness in Reno. Christie Holderegger, MNA, Melissa Liou, Ana Bankert, Travis Sandefur, Nick Tscheekar, Jeannine English

Operation Backpack is in full swing 🎒🌟 Just $53 can provide a backpack plus all needed school supplies for kids like London 📓✏️ Put a smile on a child's face today: https://ow.ly/KPuF50SGmtO #OperationBackpack #BackToSchool

Ready to make an impact every single day? 🌟 Join us and help transform lives. We're looking for dedicated individuals with a passion for supporting those in need. Discover your role: https://lnkd.in/gS84py5a 💙 #hiring

Kareem Oneal has served in three VOA positions since joining the team two years ago. He started as a Support Staff member at the Nevada Cares Campus. After three weeks, he was promoted to Diversion and Intake Specialist at the Nevada Cares Campus. Now, Kareem is the supervisor for Reno Works, a workforce development program in partnership with the City of Reno that helps people experiencing homelessness secure employment and, ideally, obtain housing. Kareem has lived experience and shared, “I believe that I’m at VOA because of the past that I’ve had struggles with drugs and alcohol and my drug addiction that led me to homelessness..." To read the rest of Kareem's story, click here: https://lnkd.in/gE-Je5fj

We are #hiring! Are you passionate about making a difference in the community? Do you have a heart for service and a commitment to creating a more inclusive world? If so, we invite you to apply for the Executive Assistant position at our faith-based nonprofit organization, dedicated to ending homelessness and building a healthy community for all people.

Ready to make a meaningful impact every day? 🌟 Join our team and be part of a positive change in the lives of those who need it most. We're searching for individuals with big hearts and a passion for helping those facing homelessness on their journey to recovery and independence. Discover how you can be the difference: https://lnkd.in/gS84py5a 💙 #hiring

Josh Arnold’s passion for VOA’s mission and drive to help others is truly inspiring. Josh brings years of experience working directly with VOA’s programs and clients. He initially joined as a case manager in the veterans program, motivated by his own military background to give back to fellow veterans. Josh’s most rewarding experience was helping his first client obtain housing after being homeless. “Seeing the joy on their face really invigorated me to continue serving people in need.” One of Josh’s proudest achievements is his involvement in opening Nottoli Place. “I was very involved and passionate about opening up Nottoli Place to help seniors... to have more access for seniors in need, where they can have a safe place to go.” Josh’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact one can have when driven by a genuine desire to make a difference. His journey from a client seeking assistance to a dedicated employee exemplifies VOA’s mission of instilling hope and transforming lives. Thank you, Josh!

I wrote this piece both to acknowledge the amazing work that has been done to date in our community, but also, to remind us that the work is not finished. "We have a tendency to make the Cares Campus and 4th Street scapegoats for complex societal issues, but this is deeply flawed. It’s like blaming the emergency room for heart disease. You do not close the emergency room; you invest in preventative care and additional treatment. We must do the same now in the social services arena. Housing is unaffordable for many. The opioid epidemic rages on in a fourth wave. Unhoused individuals have 3.5 times higher mortality rates than those who are housed. We need to catch people before they fall into homelessness. Together, we need to build mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure. We need affordable housing. The stakes are high. Doing nothing while we wring our hands for a perfect solution is not an option." https://lnkd.in/gC-SzdER