Inside These Doors: Building a Home for New Beginnings

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A Legacy of Hope and Healing

Sunshine Tahoe believes in shining a light on organizations that create lasting change in our community. Today, we’re honored to share the inspiring work of the Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) in Reno, Nevada, and their bold new vision: Inside These Doors: Building a Home for New Beginnings.

For nearly five decades, DVRC has been a lifeline for individuals and families escaping the cycle of abuse. Since opening Nevada’s first domestic violence shelter in 1977, they have supported more than 164,000 survivors with safety planning, counseling, housing stability, legal advocacy, and access to essential resources like food, transportation, and diapers. Every year, their team of dedicated advocates and volunteers answer crisis calls, provide thousands of bed nights, and guide families toward healing and hope.

In 2024, DVRC provided 4,266 individuals with 35,884 services. On average, the organization answers 1,600 hotline calls, provides over 17,000 bed nights, assists with up to 500 Temporary Protection Orders (TPOs), and conducts 980 counseling sessions each year. These services are provided by 15 employees and a steadfast group of 150 volunteers.

The Growing Need in Our Community

But the need is greater than ever. Nevada ranks second in the nation for incidents of domestic violence, and in Washoe County alone, law enforcement responds to more than 3,600 cases annually. The demand for emergency shelter has surged, with DVRC forced to double up families in rooms or place survivors in motels when their five-bedroom shelter reaches capacity—something that happens 90% of the time. For survivors who have already endured trauma, these conditions fall short of the safety, privacy, and dignity they deserve.

A Bold Vision for Change

That’s why DVRC has launched the Inside These Doors campaign—a visionary project to build a 41,000 sq. ft. domestic violence shelter and program center at their Vassar Street location. With construction beginning this fall, the new facility will:

Expand emergency beds from 25 to 100, ensuring no family in crisis is turned away.
Offer private bedrooms and bathrooms for survivors, restoring dignity and privacy.
Create a Children’s Enrichment Program and a designated teen space so young people can continue to grow even in difficult times.
Provide a work skills training center, medical office, and partner provider spaces to support long-term independence.
Include shelter for men with children and culturally respectful kitchen stations for multi-family use.
Integrate trauma-informed design and security features that protect without isolating.

Transforming Lives, One Door at a Time

When completed in 2027, this new home will serve more than 6,500 adults and children each year. Survivors will not only find immediate refuge but also the tools, support, and community connections to rebuild their lives free from violence.

As Executive Director Kristen Kennedy shares, “When people walk through our doors, at what might be the most broken moments of their lives, they will find a place of belonging, an environment where everything, including the building, the people and the space, is working together to give them a pathway forward.”