In the News
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Hi-Way 40 Motel Renovation & Reopening
A former motel in Reno has been fully renovated and reopened as Hi-Way 40 — 28 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. Local news took notice of this milestone for our community.
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Voices of Hope 2026 Captured by the Community
Our 2026 Voices of Hope fundraiser brought Sacramento together to shine a light on homelessness, recovery, and the power of community. We’re proud to share that local news outlets took notice — covering both the lead-up to the event and the meaningful stories shared on the day itself.
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Our Residents Are Making National News
Sierra Manor is part of a groundbreaking experiment connecting our residents with college students across the country — proving that meaningful connection has no age limit.
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Washoe County selects Volunteers of America to run Our Place shelter
VOA has been selected by Washoe County to oversee operations at the Our Place shelter.
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Featured in Sac Bee’s Book of Dreams
Discover how our work is changing lives in this Sacramento Bee “Book of Dreams” feature.
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Spotlight on Our Mission: Featured in Comstock’s Magazine
We are excited to share that our organization has been featured in the latest issue of Comstock’s Magazine!
Press Releases
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Building Hope for our Veterans
After nearly four years of construction, the Bell Street Apartments project in Sacramento is nearing completion, offering affordable housing and essential amenities to our Veterans and their families. Discover how the vision of creating a safe and supportive environment, including a much-needed laundry room, is transforming lives and instilling a sense of pride in those…
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Placerville’s First Low Barrier Shelter
VOA is excited to announce it will be operating El Dorado County’s first low-barrier shelter.
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Leo McFarland Retires, Christie Holderegger Elected as new CEO
McFarland retiring after 44 years.
Stories
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“Trust the Process”: Jade’s Path to Healing at Open Arms
Jade laughs when she describes her life before Open Arms as “wild”—but not the good kind of wild. “There was no consistency, no peace. I was lonely as hell.” Years of ping-ponging between the Bay Area and Florida, dealing with messy family stuff, losing people she loved, struggling with substances—it all came to a head.…
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Employee Spotlight: Dedra Russell
Dedra Russell’s 30-year journey with VOA is a testament to resilience, compassion, and the power of second chances. Her story began as a young mother in the Options Program for women and children. While participating, she gave birth to her son, Brandon, one of the program’s first babies. “They made me feel like family,” Dedra…
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Gena’s Journey to Independence
VOA houses and shelters more than 1,000 people in Northern Nevada each night. Your generous support helps us move people like Gena from homelessness to independence with love and dignity. Gena experienced significant challenges throughout the past 12 years. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2012. She returned to work in 2021 a…
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Employee Spotlight: Whitney Aguirre
Meet Whitney Aguirre, Lead Support Staff at El Dorado Navigation Center in Placerville. Whitney’s personal experience with homelessness fuels her passion for her work. “I know what it’s like, and I care about them deeply,” she says. Whitney spent three years working at a nomadic shelter, which inspired her to join NCNN and pursue a…
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Employee Spotlight: Heather Bolen
Heather Bolen is the Community Administrator for Sierra Manor One and Two in Reno, overseeing 187 units of affordable senior and disability housing. What sets Heather apart is her dedication to helping those in need. “I love that we are providing affordable housing for those who so desperately need it,” she says, highlighting the importance of her…
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Employee Spotlight: Steve Orwig
Meet Steve Orwig, a dedicated Case Manager at the Mather Family Transitional Program, whose journey into social services began with a background in criminal justice. Steve initially worked as a probation officer and held various roles in law enforcement, but his true passion was discovered when he joined Volunteers of America over ten years ago.…
For media-related inquires, please contact Ana Bankert, VP of Development & Marketing
916-265-3400
abankert@voa-ncnn.org