Nevada Rural Housing Authority breaks ground on Carson City facility for homeless vets

Nevada Rural Housing Authority along with several community partners broke ground Wednesday on the Richards Crossing housing facility in Carson City to benefit homeless veterans. The complex is at Jeanell Drive near the corner of North Carson Street and Winnie Lane.

Richards Crossing will feature eight apartment units reserved for chronically homeless veterans. The project will receive ongoing rental assistance for these units through funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and support from The U.S. Veterans Administration. The remaining 31 units will also receive Section 8 project-based rental assistance and will be prioritized for veterans, disabled individuals and the general homeless population.

In addition to providing shelter, the Richards Crossing facility will provide residents with on-site services, including job training in an adjacent training center, life skills coaching and related supportive services, as well as referrals to local service organizations to help tenants maintain housing and move towards self-sufficiency.

“We are so pleased that in the spring of 2017, we will offer housing and additional aid to those who served our country and are in the most need,” said Gary Longaker, executive director of Nevada Rural Housing Authority. “Richards Crossing and its unique combination of housing and resources can truly transform lives for the veterans it serves.”
Friends in Service Helping (FISH) secured the land donation from longtime Carson City businessman Garth Richards, for whom the facility is named, and began working with area stakeholders to develop a plan to ensure housing needs would be met for low income permanent housing for veterans. FISH teamed with NRHA and Nevada Rural Housing, Inc. to bring the plan to fruition.

“The groundbreaking of Richards Crossing has been a long time coming and is the result of the hard work and partnership of many community organizations,” said Jim Peckham, Executive Director of FISH. “This facility will serve the needs of the Carson City community for many years to come.”

The project received financial assistance from the State of Nevada Division of Housing’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Program through the Nevada Housing Division, 2016 Community Development Block Grant funds through Carson City, The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corp., American Express and Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment provided syndication, equity from the sale of the housing tax credits, and construction financing, respectively.

The land for Richards Crossing was generously donated by longtime Carson City businessman Garth Richards and his family. The development team consists of Jeanell Drive Associates LLC, Nevada Rural Housing Authority, Nevada Rural Housing Inc., Friends in Service Helping, Q&D Construction, Stephen E. Harriman, and Praxis Consulting Group, LLC. Weststates Property Management will professionally manage the property.

Richards Crossing is scheduled to open in spring 2017. For more information on Richards Crossing, contact Beth Dunning at NRHA at 775-887-1795.

Pictured in the photo, Hellen Barlcay, VP/District Manager, Wells Fargo Bank and FISH Board Member; ​Jim Peckham, Executive Director, FISH; Garth Richards; Lori Bagwell, Carson City Supervisor; Gary Longaker, Executive Director, Nevada Rural Housing Authority; Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell; CJ Manthe, Nevada Housing Division​ Administrator; Rose Cook, Vice Chairwoman, Nevada Rural Housing Authority Board of Commissioners; Dan Dykes, President, Nevada Rural Housing Inc Board​; Shannon Litz, Representative from the Office of Gov. Brian Sandoval.