A contract, approved by the Reno City Council on Wednesday, will enable low income residents with disabilities to continue to live independently.

The $26,000 contract with Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living (NNCIL) will provide for accessibility improvements to homes of Reno residents. The funding is through Community Block Grants (CDBG).

NNCIL provides comprehensive services to the area’s disabled population. Each year since 1985 the City has provided CDBG funds to NNCIL for accessibility modifications. Under last fiscal year’s contract, NNCIL installed improvements such as ramps, grab bars, threshold ramps, porch lifts, handheld showers, ADA toilets, and widened doors. Additionally, they provided 272 individuals and businesses with technical assistance with ADA compliance.

The CDBG Program provides annual direct grants to communities that can be used to expand affordable housing and economic opportunities, to revitalize neighborhoods, and/or to improve community facilities and services, principally for the benefit of low to moderate income individuals.

The City of Reno receives annual CDBG allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sidewalk improvements in the Linden-Grove area, the Oliver-Montello Neighborhood Revitalization, numerous pedestrian ramps within our community, and the West Street Market are just some examples of beneficial projects that were funded with the assistance of the CDBG Program.

For more information about Reno’s CDBG Program visit www.reno.gov, select “Government”, then “City Manager’s Office”, and “Community Resources.”

The Reno City Council accepted a $20,000 donation from the Children of Light Foundation to support program operations at the Community Assistance Center (CAC).

The funding will be used during fiscal year 2010-2011 in the following way:

• $5,000 will furnish the local match for an AmeriCorps member to staff the Community. Resource Center on a part-time basis. The AmeriCorps member will help train volunteers who assist in providing intake and referrals for clients and other persons in need who access the Resource Center to obtain services.

• $5,000 will be used to purchase bus vouchers from the Regional Transportation Commission. The vouchers are provided to clients at the CAC who need transportation to and from school, training, appointments, and employment. Bus vouchers are always in demand and assist in enabling clients to regain self-sufficiency.

• $10,000 will be used to provide motel vouchers for families who are waiting to enter the Family Shelter. The City works with Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada which provides intake, screening and short-term housing for families in need. Based on past data, $10,000 will support this service for the coming year.

On June 9, 2010, the Reno City Council approved the renewal of the Cooperative Agreement between the Cities of Reno and Sparks and Washoe County for fiscal year 2010-2011 operations of the CAC. The agreement identifies the City of Reno as the lead entity responsible for contracting with service providers for the CAC as well as pursuing grant opportunities in support of CAC programs.

On Wednesday, the Reno City Council accepted two $70,000 Justice Assistance Grants to the Reno Police Department to support the operations of the multi-jurisdictional gang unit and the narcotics prevention and enforcement program.

The federal grants are through the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice through June 30, 2011. The grants do not require a match from local government and help to offset law enforcement costs that would otherwise come from local government budgets.

The cooperative law enforcement gang unit includes officers from the Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Department, Sparks Police Department and the Washoe County School District Police. The Regional Gang Unit focuses on known areas with high concentrations of gang members and gang activity, identifies and tracks the most active gang members responsible for the majority of gang activity and gang related crimes. The combined agency operations employ proactive enforcement methods in the areas recognized for gang membership and narcotics activities.