Sponsorship sought for FISH's student housing project

Friends in Service Helping’s student housing project continues with the interior coming into place, Executive Director Jim Peckham said Thursday.

He also has announced a sponsorship program to draw corporate and community support for each room in the complex.

“Then, it’s a matter of encouraging people to get into technical programs or internships with HVAC (heating, ventilation or air conditioning) companies or car dealerships for mechanics with (Western Nevada College) for the training that they need,” Peckham said. “And we can get them hooked up with some of those relationships. It’s just like college. You have to get enrolled in college first before you can find out what’s going on in housing.”

FISH’s three-building transitional career complex off North Carson Street by Donuts to Go, offers two housing buildings with 36 units and a commercial building. Apartments will offer one- and two-unit bedrooms with one bathroom. FISH has begun receiving appliances, including dishwashers, washers and dryers and air conditioners. Size differs but generally range between 500 and 700 square foot and meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, Peckham said.

The training center in the commercial building will offer food service on the first floor with a restaurant and ice cream or coffee shop and classes to be held on the second floor to provide students the technical skills employees are seeking from potential recruits.

The beam that was signed by local donors and students and recently placed during the building’s topping off will remain visible on the training center’s third floor, Peckham said.

Peckham said FISH is inviting local businesses, families or individuals to donate about $2,500 to support the rooms that cost about $4,000 in all. Sponsorships would establish a plaque being posted in their name in a room once the building has been completed.

But Peckham said enrolling for the education to get the housing is a must.

“We can help them get hooked up with some of those relationships, and if they’re able to be accepted into that, then we can talk to them about our housing,” he said. “It’s just like college. You have to get enrolled in college first before you can find out what’s going on with the housing. We had learned the hard way when people said, ‘Give me the housing and then eventually I’ll go to college,’ it doesn’t work.”

Peckham said he’s working with the Nevada Rural Housing Authority on securing a loan for the project. Estimates for room rents are $1,200 for one-bedroom units and between $1,400 and $1,600 for two-bedroom units. But he said how much of a loan to help cover expenses is to be determined.

“If we do have to get a loan, it’ll be cheap or free,” he said. “But we want people to focus as much as possible on their education. We want them to be the best employees possible because if they can’t get employed and if employees don’t like what we produce, then the whole thing’s a waste, and so we really want to focus on that.

“And we can provide food, electricity, WiFi and a whole lot of things to help them through that just through our normal services and help them continue to grow.”