Transitional housing center opens

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada will now be able to house up to 120 adults in a new transitional housing complex.

The complex, which was to open today, will provide temporary housing for adults who have made the decision to get back on their feet and move into their own home or apartment.

"These spaces are available for those people that have made a decision to reconstruct their lives," said Frank Richo, Catholic Charities' director of residential services. "This won't be a shelter for someone just coming in off the street, but a place for people to use as a steppingstone for moving into their own home."

In order to be considered for one of the 120 units an applicant must make no more than about $11,000 a year, Richo said.

"This gives us a chance to work with these people and help them to re-learn how to budget their money for rent, utilities and other necessities," Richo said. "It will also give them time to save some money up for the initial costs of setting up a new apartment."

Program participants will be able to stay in the transitional complex for up to two years, and when one moves on, Catholic Charities will fill the vacant spot with another person, Richo said.

The new complex, located in the Catholic Charities plaza at 1516 North Main St. in Las Vegas, is a joint project of Catholic Charities and HELP USA, a national transitional housing provider.

Transitional housing marks the second of four phases planned as part of the plaza that is still under construction and has a price tag of $25 million.

The first phase of the plaza involved the revitalization and renovation of Catholic Charities' dining center. The third phase will be a commercial center with a laundry room and post office, and the final phase will be a central facility to house social-services offices.

archive