Karma Box project funded by City amid controversies
A number of public commenters went before the Reno City Council on Wednesday to discuss American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Discussions focused on only one of the several proposed funding avenues: the Karma Box Project. While several commenters spoke in support of Karma Box and its executive director, others said they were concerned about funds going to an organization that’s faced controversies in the last two years.
Despite the public frustration, council members said they were more frustrated that, despite all the ARPA money poured into downtown and the river corridor, the area does not seem to have become any safer.
Council member Kathleen Taylor said she was frustrated and that she has supported every item that has come before the council relating to safety and security downtown. She said that while she supports organizations like RISE and Karma Box, the last report that came before the council showed that 177 individuals did not want services from these organizations.
“There are 177 people out there that don’t want anything to do with help and they’re destroying our places.”
“I can’t walk my dogs without getting whipped at, my neighbors can’t use the park without getting contact highs, people can’t use our river without having trash, without having camps, and I need to understand how these programs get us to a clean safe city,” she said. “If this isn’t working, what do we need to do?”
Taylor clarified that she wasn’t frustrated with the people working to reduce homelessness, but she wanted to know what solutions exist for individuals who do not want help from services.
“Do we need a [no barriers shelter] where these folks can go?” she asked. “Because they’re not the ones that want services … There are 177 people out there that don’t want anything to do with help and they’re destroying our places … It’s whack-a-mole.”
Taylor said there are developers wanting to put $23 million into Fourth Street, but there are people “littering” the streets who do not want to go to the Cares Campus.
“They can’t ruin our public places,” Taylor said. “I’m sorry, I’m really passionate, but we’re throwing more money at this: How does this get us to where we need to be?”
Mayor Hillary Schieve said she agreed it’s a crisis. “All of us have supported every single initiative when it comes to a clean, safe city, and yet I think there is a lot to be desired. Maybe there needs to be a readjustment of our thought process.”
Council member Ebert also agreed.
“I want to know what the outcomes are for downtown,” she said. “The problem isn’t gone, we’ve put a lot of money to it, and this is a lot more money to it, to something that hasn’t solved the problem. And the money is almost gone, so what are we really doing with this money? I don’t feel like we’re getting results, and the money is going to run out. Do we have a long-term strategy?”
Taylor said she needed to know the funding plan for RISE and Karma Box as ARPA funding ends.
Schieve said she didn’t really want to support the funding, and Council member Naomi Duerr suggested tabling it. However, they moved forward by voting to approve funding both organizations.
Denton allegations continue to haunt Karma Box Project
As part of the proposed ARPA funding approved by council members, the Karma Box Project was proposed to receive $347,704. The funding proposal spurred a flood of public commenters – most of whom were in favor of the nonprofit and spoke highly of its effect within the community. Those included people Karma Box has helped and the Life Change Center’s John Firestone.
Karma Box Project was created in 2018, and since then, the goodwill boxes have appeared across Reno and Washoe County. The boxes are community supported and filled by individuals with items for those experiencing homelessness, such as hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, small containers of shampoo/soap, non-perishable foods, first aid and menstrual items.
A number of nonprofits and local municipalities have partnered with the Karma Box Project, including providing grants and donations. The nonprofit now manages the Safe Camp portion of the Nevada Cares Campus.
However, the organization has experienced several controversies. First, it lost its nonprofit status in September 2022 after failing to file three years’ worth of required forms with the IRS.
That was followed this year when allegations surfaced about the project’s founder and executive director, Grant Denton, with some accusing him of inappropriate behavior toward women in recovery from addiction.
Accusations against Denton came about at a May 28 meeting of Washoe’s Board of County Commissioners, during which two women, including Denton’s ex-girlfriend, accused him of inappropriate behavior toward women, especially those in recovery from addiction.
Since then, more allegations have come forth on social media. Denton has denied the allegations and was cleared of any wrongdoing during a “limited investigation” that looked only at Denton’s conduct in relation to safe camp.
Karma Box board members and local business owners came forward to share their appreciation of Karma Box. Commenter Linda Loveless said she believes Karma Box is a bridge between “businesses and the unhomed.”
“We get very irritated about what goes on around our businesses, and [Karma Box] helps us understand what the unhoused go through and the obstacles it takes for them to get off the streets,” she said. “I believe they’re invaluable to the efforts of the city.”
Amanda Briarton of Chronical Capital Management similarly said that her business often works with Karma Box, and said they are “imperative” to working on Fourth Street.
Troy Regus said he was against the funding of Karma Box, stating the allegations against Denton were “concerning” and that he failed to maintain the organization’s non-profit status. He said it is clear there are many “Jane Does” who will not come forward to speak against Denton out of fear of facing legal repercussions after Denton hired an attorney to send his ex-girlfriend a cease and desist letter, and threatened her with a lawsuit.
“It’s shameful now that Mr. Denton is claiming he has been cleared of all allegations, which is not the case,” Regus said. “I encourage this body to not further enable him to continue this negative and dangerous behavior aimed toward women in substance recovery. It saddens me there are people in positions of power who have known about this, and allowed it to continue.”
Several women also approached This Is Reno, expressing concerns about Denton and his lack of official credentials to work with those in recovery. They said they fear speaking out because Denton appears protected by local politicians and other decision-makers.
Denton provided public comment, stating he wanted to stick with the “facts.”
“A lot has been sacrificed to get here,” he said. “We started four years ago from a meager four-person board to a strong 11-person board today. We started with one employee four years ago. Now we have 40 employees, 80% of which have lived experience and most have come from these streets.”
This year alone, Denton said, they placed 33 individuals in housing, helped 160 individuals access IDs or resources, and reunited 17 individuals with family members in other states. In addition, they’ve cleaned up over 1,900 yards of trash in the city.
“These numbers are still climbing,” Denton said. “This is a tough job, and it’s a lot tougher when you’re being attacked. It’s really easy to take shots from a keyboard and on social media or come here to make false and exaggerated accusations. What isn’t easy is actually doing the work. I know this Karma Box isn’t just Grant Denton, Karma Box is 40 employees, 11 board members and thousands of the homeless population.”
The approved Karma Box Project funding supports the Street Keeper program, which enlists people who are homeless to help clean city streets and the areas surrounding the railroad tracks and the river. These individuals work as volunteers in exchange for a $50 gift card. They are also offered outreach services. The Karma Box budget includes salaries for one outreach supervisor, two outreach specialists, a director, administrative support, outreach vehicles and the gift cards.
Other ARPA funding projects approved during the meeting included contract renewals for the Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality (RISE) outreach, and parks and recreation projects including Reno Tennis Center court lights, a rolling recreation unit and security cameras.
Council member Meghan Ebert asked whether the tax status of the organizations would cause any issues as far as funding goes, including an organization losing non-profit status.
According to the city’s Cynthia Esparza, the standing of each nonprofit was verified before approval.
