Carson City's only children's shelter could close

The only shelter for abused and neglected children in Carson City could close because of a lack of funds and demand.

Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada cannot keep its emergency shelter open without more demand and funding from the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services, said Christie Holderegger, a representative for the private nonprofit.

"We can't afford to operate like that," she said.

The state hasn't referred one child or teen to the shelter in more than a month, she said.

The shelter has usually had at least eight children at its 12-bed shelter that it has operated for about 16 years, she said.

The nonprofit may get the donations needed to stay open, Holderegger said, but it isn't clear if it will be able to.

The state's use of the shelter usually contributes 75 percent of the shelter's $293,000 annual budget.

The shelter provides children up to age 18 with food, clothing and supervision until the child can be returned to parents or a safe home.

About 75 children go to the shelter each year for an average of 45 days each.

Novia Anderson, Carson City district office manager of the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services, said a state law that took effect this year has cut down on the number of children the division refers to shelter.

The law, passed in the 2007 Legislature, prevents children age 6 and under from being referred to emergency shelters. Those children taken from abusive homes have to be placed with relatives or in foster care.

Anderson said the division hasn't removed fewer children than usual from abusive homes this year, but the children have tended to be young.

The shelter has provided a good service for the division and would be a "huge loss" if closed, she said.

It is an especially good place for teens, who are often difficult to find a foster family for, she said.

The division has been trying to recruit more foster families and hopes National Foster Care Month in May will help, she said.

Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada also operates four emergency shelters for men, women, children and families in Reno. It is based in Sacramento and is part of the Volunteers of America, which operates social services in more than 400 communities in the country.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.