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More than 3,600 people benefit monthly from the Emergency Assistance Program, which provides assistance for individuals and
families in emergency situations caused by
loss of job, family crisis, illness, or
other personal situations.
Services include clothing, bus and prescription vouchers; limited rental assistance; short-term family housing; gasoline vouchers; baby supplies; work permits; phone calls; toiletries; and referral to other local service agencies for specialized or additional assistance. No fees are charged for these services.
 The Foster Family came to the Emergency Assistance office for help in December 2005 after Ed was laid off from his job as union carpenter. Ed had just moved his family to Reno from out of state, expecting to support them with what he thought was a steady job.
After their story was publicized in the Reno Gazette Journal's "Gift of Giving" series, the family was the receipient of gift cards from the local community and an anonymous $1,000 donation which allowed them to move from their temporary lodings at a downtown motel and into an apartment...just in time for Christmas. Ed's plight also came to the attention of the local Carpenter's union, which helped find Ed another job. Later, Ed would say that the whole experience renewed his faith in God and in the caring nature of people.
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