A Home for Every Heart
More Than Just Foster Care
Since 2007, Austin’s House has been a temporary refuge for children in crisis. When home is no longer safe, we provide emergency shelter, stability, and support to help kids heal, grow, and hope again.
A Home for Every Heart
More Than Just Foster Care
Since 2007, Austin’s House has been a temporary refuge for children in crisis. When home is no longer safe, we provide emergency shelter, stability, and support to help kids heal, grow, and hope again.
About Us
Caring for Children in Crisis
Every child deserves safety, stability, and care. At Austin’s House, we provide emergency shelter for children from birth to age 18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. As the only children’s shelter in rural Northern Nevada, we offer 24/7 care and support until a safe, long term placement is found.
Our Mission
To provide compassionate, 24/7 care to children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Our Vision
A community where every child in crisis finds safety, stability, and a path to healing.
Real Words From the Kids We Serve
How We Take Care of the Kids
At Austin’s House, we provide a safe, nurturing environment where every child’s basic needs are met with care and consistency. Children receive balanced meals, clean clothing, and essential personal items. We coordinate transportation to school and activities, arrange medical screenings, vaccinations, and doctor visits, and offer educational support, emotional care, and counseling to help each child heal and thrive.
What is it like for kids at Austin’s House? Listen as our Executive Director, Marla Morris, and our staff supervisor, Moira Byrne, talk about how the kids are cared for.
This video was donated.
Nutritious meals, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep
Access to medical, dental, and mental health care
Transportation to and from school and appointments
Educational support and tutoring
Supervised activities and enrichment opportunities
Trauma-informed care from trained staff, 24/7/365
Events
Join us under the starlit sky of Gardnerville, NV, for an unforgettable evening of charity, entertainment, and community spirit. Boots & Bling, the largest fundraising event of the year for Austin’s House, brings together incredible food, exciting auctions, lively music, and a whole lot of fun—all for a great cause!
- Event Passed
Your Support in Action
50-75
Children helped each year
200+
Meals served monthly
82%
Of every dollar goes directly to childcare and supervision
24/7
365 days a year
We are Hiring!
Do you love working with kids? We are looking for YOU!
Pay starting at $14 – $20 per hour based on experience. Fill out the application online today!
A Home for Every Heart; More than Just Foster Care
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Donors
We are deeply grateful to the businesses, organizations, and individuals whose generosity fuels our mission year-round. Your support ensures that every child at Austin’s House receives the care, stability, and compassion they need to thrive. Together, we’re creating brighter futures, one child at a time.
Your support helps us provide for the kids!
- Dental Visits
- Doctor Visits
- School Supplies/Book & Bags
- Activities (supervision and transportation)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Austin’s House?
Austin’s House is an emergency children’s shelter serving Northern Nevada. We provide 24/7 care for children from birth through age 18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
How are children placed at Austin’s House?
Most of the children at Austin’s House are placed there by the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services or by Native American Tribal Social Services.
How long do children stay?
Although emergency shelter care is generally defined as 30 days or less, children in the past several years have stayed an average of 48 days, with a range of stay from less than 1 day to more than 3 years. The longest stays are typically the result of complex cases and/or children who are difficult to place due to their behavioral or mental health issues or special needs.
Who cares for the children while they are at the shelter?
The staff at Austin’s House are trained and experienced at caring for children who have suffered trauma, and who often exhibit challenging behaviors as a result. Austin’s House is operated by caring staff who work closely with the placement agencies to ensure that each child’s needs are met until a more permanent placement can be identified or until family reunification can occur.
Do the children have access to school and other services?
When children arrive at Austin’s House, the top priority is to meet their immediate needs for shelter, food and emotional support. Local medical and dental practices partner with Austin’s House to provide well child physicals and dental checks without long waits. All of the child’s immediate and longer term needs for clothing, school supplies, and other necessities are provided. Literacy and education are top priorities at Austin’s House, and all school aged children are enrolled in school–typically within 1 day of being placed. Children typically remain in their school of origin if already enrolled.
Can parents visit with their children who are placed at Austin’s House?
When visitation with parents, other family members or friends is approved by the child’s caseworker, Austin’s House provides a visitation room, handles visit logistics, and monitors the visits as requested.
How do I find out about employment or volunteering to support Austin’s House?
For information regarding employment or volunteer opportunities, please contact the Executive Director at 775-267-6711.
Does Austin’s House accept donations?
Yes, Austin’s House relies on the support of the community through monetary donations, and in-kind gifts of supplies and services, including free or discounted labor and supplies for maintenance of the facility, scholarships or discounted tuitions for sports and other community clubs or activities, donations of food and other supplies, and support of birthday and holiday celebrations. Please contact the business office at 775-267-6711 for all donations.
How is Austin’s House funded?
Austin’s House must maintain adequate staffing to accept children 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. Whether there is one child or ten children in residence, the operational expenses of maintaining a 24/7 facility must be met. Although Austin’s House receives fees for service for children in residence, these fees typically cover only about 50% of our operating expenses. The balance must be raised through individual, corporate, and foundation donations and fundraising.
Inside Austin's House
News & Updates
Thank You for Making Boots & Bling 2025 a Success
On July 19, more than 300 friends of Austin’s House gathered at the Twisting T-Bar Ranch for our annual Boots & Bling gala. Surrounded by the beauty of the Carson Valley, it was an evening filled with generosity, connection, and hope for the children who are placed at Austin’s House when they need emergency shelter. We are especially grateful to
Serving Rural Nevada’s Children
Nevada is a big state. Outside of Reno and Las Vegas, miles of open road stretch between small towns and rural communities. For children living in those places, resources can be scarce, and when a crisis happens there are very few options for immediate care. Austin’s House is the only emergency shelter serving children from all of Nevada’s rural counties.
