Brian, 51, says he's looking for work and a place to call home but that he's having a hard time finding either. He's worked odd jobs and recently had a job as a janitor, but losing work caused him to be back on the streets. After being kicked out from where he used to sleep in Reno, he is now facing displacement by Sparks police. A decision announced a few days ago, but not yet carried out, would prevent the homeless from staying under this bridge and along the Truckee river.
Some of Brian's neighbors live inside tents, but Brian uses just a blanket to sleep.
"The problem is a lot of people don't have a job and jobs are hard to get," Brian told Our Town Reno this week. "Even if they have part time jobs, it's not easy to get a place and it's pretty crowded with the rentals. I have income coming from my Social Security but I'm having a heck of a time trying to make it."
Brian says he makes about $700 a month from Social Security, and that he is looking for a place to stay for about $450 a month, utilities included, to have enough to eat and clothe himself, and start looking for work again.
There are no camping signs on the bridge under which Brian sleeps, but he says that without a tent or camping equipment, he doesn't think he is camping.
"Sleeping under the bridge is good in some respects but you have to be aware of the wind and the cold. You still have to have two or three layers of clothes plus a coat plus thermal boots, and without that you might as well, kiss your butt goodbye because you'll freeze to death."
There have been tensions between environmentalists who want to make sure the riverside and trails are kept clean and accessible, and activists seeking to help the homeless.
Brian says he is very grateful for the churches, organizations and volunteers who bring food to different areas of Reno and Sparks where the homeless congregate. He says even if this area is disbanded, the homeless would still go there to come get the healthy food which is usually brought here on Monday nights.