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United Way of Connecticut Leads Waterbury Project Homeless Connect - 11/08
Over 230 guests were welcomed at the Waterbury Armory for Project Homeless Connect, under the sponsorship of the United Way of Connecticut, represented by Angie Medina, Connect coordinator and local providers. Local radio station WATR broadcast from the Armory.
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Project Homeless Connect Events in Lincoln County and in Central Oregon Mobilize Support for 10 Year Plan Strategies – 10/08
Lincoln County community leaders have adopted the Project Homeless Connect innovation to serve as a practical point of coordination between housing and service agencies that can model the needed year round coordination as the county continues to move forward with the implementation of its 10 Year Plan. County leaders in Central Oregon, who have partnered to develop a 10 Year Plan, held their second Project Homeless Connect in Redmond with the nearly 2000 guests who were welcomed by over 600 volunteers reflecting how hard the community has been hit by the recent troubles in the housing market. Read More>
In Contra Costa, CA a "community of good will and smart ideas" Continues to Make a Difference on Homelessness with 3rd Project Homeless Connect – 9/08
Pacheco Town Council Vice President Doug Stewart, who founded Pacheco Homeless Outreach in June 2004 and is a jurisdictional partner to Contra Costa's 10 Year Plan which most recently reported a 30% reduction in street and chronic homelessness, was recognized with the President's Call to Service Award during the community's 3rd Project Homeless Connect during which more than 135 DMV IDs were issued and more than 70 homeless court cases resolved. Read More>
Luis Palau Evangelistic Association Knits Together Faith Community Efforts in Support of Portland/Multnomah County 10 Year Plan and 6th Community Project Homeless Connect – 8/08
Sponsored by Multnomah County and the City of Portland as part pf their 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness Implementation Strategy, this 6th Project Homeless Connect added a new major partner in the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association. Read More>
Fargo, ND Welcomes Homeless Neighbors who are “Going Home” Through Project Homeless Connect – 8/08
Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple, who participated along with State Senator Tim Mathern at a forum held as part of the PHC event, noted that the Governor’s Office has supported the development of jurisdictional 10 Year Plans across the state, is underway with the state's own plan based on local strategies, and has a sound budget from which new solutions may emerge. "I look forward to a period of time when we see a visible improvement in what we can do for people," he said. Read More>
Tucson Welcomes Homeless Neighbors with Inaugural Project Homeless Connect Event – 7/08
By the end of Tucson’s inaugural Project Homeless Connect event, approximately 250 persons had been assisted, including 50 who obtained identification cards from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Read More>
700 Hundred Homeless Guests Respond to Mayor’s Invitation to Participate in Lansing, MI Inaugural Project Homeless Connect - 6/08
"It is Project Homeless Connect's aim to provide mobile hospitality, by allowing the patrons to navigate the space and resources openly, but to also foster a sense of welcome, comfort, increased morale, and independence for our homeless population," stated Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero in his letter of invitation to homeless neighbors, City Council members, potential partners, and volunteers. Read More>
Twin Cities Continue to Advance Solutions to Homelessness in Partnership, Planning, and Innovation with 3rd Project Homeless Connect in Capital City of St. Paul, MN – 6/08
Project Homeless Connect partners around the country are using video sharing websites to distribute short videos of their one-day, one-stop engagement events, offering a visual image of the experiences of both volunteers and consumers, demonstrating real-life results for consumers, and helping promote volunteer participation in ending homelessness. Read More> |
Noted event organizers: "Offering shelter alone does not end homelessness. Connecting individuals with services that provide them with support and opportunities, can. This event is a powerful tool to get individuals and families directly connected to services by coming together in one building that is easily accessible to all." Read More>
A Focus on “Connecting” to Employment at New Britain, CT Project Homeless Connect – 6/08
The Project Homeless Connect event is an action step in the city's employment-focused 10 Year Plan. "With the attention New Britain has paid to employment, it's the only plan in the country whose employment plan is equal to housing," indicated USICH Director Philip Mangano. Read More>
In Springfield, MA, a 2nd Project Homeless Connect Builds on Lessons Learned and Continues 10 Year Plan Momentum that Has Achieved Reported 39% Drop in Chronic Homelessness - 6/08
Springfield's Project Homeless Connect one-day results: 19 people housed, 18 employers on site taking more than 220 job applications, 115 applications filed for Medicaid, Social Security, TANF, and Food Stamps, and over 165 Massachusetts IDs issued. In addition, warrants were cleared, skin cancer tests administered, eyeglasses distributed, and phone calls made. Read More>
Connecting “Heart to Heart” in Albany, Oregon – 6/08
Led by Albany Police Captain Ben Atcheley, citizen volunteers and resource providers mobilized to convene the community's second Project Homeless Connect for over 150 guests, sponsored by HEART (Homeless Enrichment and Rehabilitation Team), the City of Albany, and the Community Services Consortium. Read More>
America’s Road Home is Highlight of Inaugural Torrington, CT Connect Event. – 5/08
An inaugural Project Homeless Connect event convened last week in Northwestern Connecticut's largest city of Torrington, with Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, the City of Torrington, and Northwest Connecticut Continuum of Care acting as hosts at the Coe Memorial Park and the Torrington Armory. Read More>
California’s CapitalCity of Sacramento Offers “Hand to Hand” Welcome at its 1st Project Homeless Connect Event - 5/08
California's state capital city convened its first 'welcome' to homeless neighbors last week, with the Cal Expo winter shelter event site attracting nearly 500 guests. Mayor Heather Fargo, Assembly member Dave Jones, and County Supervisor Roger Dickinson welcomed volunteers, with Norb Bartosik, CEO of Cal Expo. This hand-to-hand assistance will positively impact everyone involved," said Tim Brown, Director, Sacramento's Ending Chronic Homelessness Initiative. Read More>
Statewide Partnership Produces Results: Minnesota’s 2007 Project Homeless Connect Report - released 6/08
The innovation of Project Homeless Connect is equal parts welcoming homeless neighbors into the life of the community, changing the way resources are accessed, and achieving quantifiable results for people experiencing homelessness. In Minnesota, where state-level and statewide political will and partnership to end homelessness are in evidence, a new statewide report (compiled by the Wilder Center with the Minnesota Department of Human Services) on Project Homeless Connect shows just what is being achieved. The report demonstrates the value of data collection and results reporting linked to the event. Read More>
Minneapolis/Hennepin County, MN Project Homeless Connect Website Spotlights Community Commitment, Organization, and Results - 6/08
Minneapolis and Hennepin County's Office to End Homelessness convened Project Homeless Connect #5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, and organizers have called the event "the largest and best organized event to date," reaching over 2,800 individuals with the help of over 1,300 volunteers and 350 resource providers. Read More>
Akron/Summit County, OH Hosts First Project Homeless Connect in BuckeyeState – 4/08
The first Project Homeless Connect event in the state of Ohio convened last week in Akron and Summit County, with 500 homeless neighbors being welcomed by over 150 community volunteers for the event which also makes Akron/Summit County and the city of Barberton the 170th Project Homeless Connect community in the nation. Each jurisdiction invested to make the event a success, with Akron donating $5,000; Summit County, $2,000; and Barberton, $500, to help to cover expenses. ''We've tried to make this day a day of hospitality,'' said Sue Pierson, vice president of programs for InfoLine, Summit County's clearinghouse for social services. Read More>
In Vancouver/Clark County, Washington a Project Homeless Connect Undertaken as Class Project of LeadershipClarkCounty during National Volunteer Week - 4/08
In Vancouver, Washington, the community's inaugural Project Homeless Connect event at the Hudson's Bay High School Commons offered housing and employment information; dental and legal services; and Veterans' Affairs and Social Security service to homeless residents of Clark County. There were also vision exams, wheelchair repair, haircuts, massage, pet care and addiction services and over 300 volunteers. Kelly Adams, Development Coordinator for the Council for the Homeless, was the key organizer. Public officials attending the event were Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, State Senator Craig Pridemore, Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt, and Vancouver City Council Member Larry Smith. Read More>
“The most important thing they need is you” Mayor Piercy Told 800 Volunteers in Eugene, OR - 2/08
"Homeless people will get many things they need today, but the most important thing they need is you," Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy told Project Homeless Connect volunteers. "You are here to listen to them, to hear about what they need and to connect with them as citizens of our community." She added: "Remember that people don't choose to be homeless, it comes upon them for a variety of reasons, but they want to get out of homelessness and into a home. Our community won't accept homelessness as a condition of life. We are working to end homelessness." Read More>
Wireless Network Produces Real Time Results in Waco, TX – 1/08
Waco, Texas extended a community-wide "welcome" to homeless neighbors as the city convened its second annual Project Homeless Connect event recently. Innovative resources offered included the donation of wireless service for the day from Grandecom. The wireless network was available throughout the entire First Lutheran Church, the event venue. This allowed the Heart of Texas Workforce to connect people with possible employment immediately. It also allowed for approval for Food Stamps, veteran's benefits, and Social Security sign-up to on the spot. Read More>
CountyCommissioners and City Council Members Implement 1st Strategy of Washington County, OR Ten Year Plan – Project Homeless Connect - 1/08
Tualatin Parks and Recreation Center in Beaverton, Oregon was the site of last week's "welcome" extended to over 200 homeless neighbors by over 100 community volunteers at the county's Project Homeless Connect event. The event was preceded by a special meeting for some fifty community leaders. The Project Homeless Connect event is the first active strategy of the Washington County 10-Year Plan under development. Read More>
Project Homeless Connect Event Used to Launch Ten Year Plan in Coeur d’Alene, ID - 1/08
Despite more than three feet of snow on the ground and seven new inches of snow, the Kootenai County, Idaho inaugural Project Homeless Connect event offered a warm "welcome" to homeless neighbors last week, bringing partners from Post Falls and Couer d'Alene together at the North Idaho National Guard Armory in partnership with the Idaho National Guard. 125 people were welcomed by some 80 volunteers from the community. Coeur d'Alene Idaho Department of Labor chaired the event. Read More>
Learn From an Expert City: The Role of Volunteers in San Francisco’s PHC Events
On site, San Francisco's volunteers fulfill a variety of roles which have evolved through the experience of prior events and extensive planning and debriefing to identify best practices and next steps. Pre-Event Volunteers work during the runup to the event on data entry, packaging hygiene kits, phone bank calls, or volunteer outreach. Client Support team members are the first contact clients have with volunteers at the service center. This role is crucial in helping engage clients and make them feel welcome. They escort clients to each service site helping them to navigate the center. Some volunteers who have a special interest will be stationed at one of the many service areas such as housing information or mental health or dental. Street Outreach team members travel to different San Francisco neighborhoods and engage with homeless clients. In groups of 2 or 3 team members encourage clients to come to the event. Read More>
Read About Some Project Homeless Connect Events - 2007
Partnerships - Logistics - Innovations - Results
6000 Elected Officials and Volunteers Welcome 10,000 Homeless Neighbors into the “Living Room of Their Communities” during Third Annual National Project Homeless Connect – December 3-8, 2007
Across the nation more than 6,000 elected officials and community volunteers worked to make resources more available and accessible to end homelessness during the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness' Third Annual National Project Homeless Connect Week.
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Extensive Outreach, New Transportation Resources, and Welcome by Mayor Reed and City Council Members in San Jose and Santa Clara County, CA
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"In the end, I had 26 pairs of shoes, and these wonderful people who were complete strangers to me helped make it all happen”: A Volunteers Story from San Jose, CA
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Federal, State, and CountyGovernment Partners and Local Resource Programs Combine Efforts for 2nd Project Homeless Connect in Oakland, County, MI.
Oakland County, Michigan, whose Commissioner Eric Coleman is the new President of the National Association of Counties, brought resources on site that included the Community Mental Health Authority, Health Department, County Substance Abuse services, Veteran's Services (including Veteran benefits counseling, advocacy and claims assistance, emergency financial relief, and transportation to VA Medical Centers in Detroit and Ann Arbor), Workforce Development, Family Services (including Father's Resource Center offering two free support and education programs for fathers throughout Oakland County), and Oakland Schools Homeless Student Education Project, offering resources and school coordination services for homeless students. Read More>
Aggressive Outreach in Rural Van Buren County, MI Yields Four Times the Expected Number of Consumers
In Van Buren County, Michigan, a rural area, an inaugural Project Homeless Connect event showed that aggressive outreach in a rural county can produce an effective event. Read More>
Triangle United Way's Leadership in Evidence at "trifecta" of Homeless Connect Events Held Simultaneously in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleig
While each event had its own "personality," the events all received seed grant monies from the United Way and the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs, and help with volunteer recruitment and other logistics from the United Way. Joining the many county, state, and federal agency representatives and service provider volunteers in Raleigh were representatives of Congressman Brad Miller, and Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr's offices. Read More>
Put On Your Traveling Shoes and Make a Pilgrimage
Encouraged to do so by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, officials from several dozen cities interested in holding Project Homeless Connect events in their communities have traveled to San Francisco where Mayor Gavin Newsom originated the Project Homeless Connect innovation. Similarly, Council Region 10 Coordinator Paul Carlson has facilitated observer visits by representatives of 10- Year Plan jurisdictions in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho to Project Homeless Connect events in Portland and other Northwest communities. Read More>
Best Practices in Project Homeless Connect Business and Civic Partnership
As is true for jurisdictional 10-Year Plans, partnership of the public and private sectors in Project Homeless Connect creates an expansive and inclusive array of partners offering new opportunities to leverage complementary resources and increase access for consumers. Read More>
Best Practices in PHC Partnership in Government
Project Homeless Connect partnerships in federal, state, city, and county government increase access to consumer-centric resources and reduce barriers to services. Read More>
Innovating the Innovation of Project Homeless Connect in Portland, OR to “connect” with Families
Coincide with the school year allows organizers to partner with schools for outreach. Read More>
Innovating within the Innovation by Welcoming Youth who are Homeless in Berkeley, CA.
"We know that young homeless people fall through the cracks of our traditional homeless service and outreach efforts," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. "By bringing our community together in one place to provide a range of useful services and programs, we think we can give these young people some help and hopefully break the cycle of homelessness." Read More>
Jurisdictional Leaders Speak Out in Support for Project Homeless Connect - Read More>
Change and Preparedness are Themes of Project Homeless Connects in Tacoma, Washington and Central Oregon.
Project Homeless Connect is a chance to change and be changed" Read More>
Volunteers and Flexible “Day of” Resources Key to Homeless Connect Results in Minneapolis, MN
One volunteer from the Unitarian Church, after successfully securing donations of 2,500 pairs of socks, reasoned that she could also seek 100 volunteers for the event.
University of St. Catherine Nursing School sent 60 volunteer nursing students to provide primary care and triage. Read More>
One-Day, One-Stop Events Engage Homeless Families and Individuals, and Veterans in Portland, OR, St. Petersburg, FL, Jackson, MI and Connecticut
“A day to reach out. A day to learn” Read More>
A Joint Project Homeless Connect-VA Stand Down in Asheville Opens a Season of Connect Events in North Carolina 10 Year Plan Communities
Communities in North Carolina are continuing to sow the seeds for ending homelessness. Having developed and adopted jurisdictionally based 10-Year Plans, Asheville/Buncombe County, Raleigh/Wake County, Chapel Hill/Orange County and Durham/Durham County are utilizing the broad range of partnerships and resources identified through the plan process to engage homeless individuals and families through Project Homeless Connect. Read More>
Council Sponsors National Conference Call for Jurisdictional Partners Interested in Replicating Portland, Oregon’s Successful Project Homeless Connect Model for Families
Ten key best practices identified in the more than 165 successful, results-oriented, consumer- centric Project Homeless Connect events implemented to date across the country were the basis for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness's September 6 national conference call for jurisdictional partners interested in replicating Portland, Oregon's successful family Project Homeless Connect engagement model. Read More>
40 Housed and 10 Employed at Norfolk, VA 4th Project Homeless Connect
More than 50 of the region's homeless are now on their way to new lives as a result of Norfolk’s 4th Project Homeless Connect. Read More>
"Beginning to Put Homelessness Behind Them" at Springfield, MA 1st Project Homeless Connect Event
It's a simple question, How Can We Help You? and for the 500 homeless and at risk women, men and children who were welcomed to the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts last Friday for the community's first Project Homeless Connect, that question was the beginning of putting homelessness behind them. Read More>
When Actions Speak Louder than Words - Read More>
Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN Collaborate to Host Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-State Project Homeless Connect
With public support from Fargo, North Dakota Mayor Dennis Walaker and Moorhead, Minnesota Mayor Mark Voxland that included jointly signed letters to the business community and to service providers urging their participation and support, last week's inaugural Fargo- Moorhead regional Project Homeless Connect reached more than 300 homeless and at risk individuals and families, including 60 veterans. Read More>
Anchorage, Alaska Welcomes Neighbors in Inaugural Project Homeless Connect and Implements 10-Year Plan Engagement Strategy
Convened in a local school, Anchorage Connect arrayed similar services in classrooms for easy access. Anchorage's planning committee included faith- based partners, representatives of local real estate, and officials of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation which convenes the State's Interagency Council. Read More>
"Learning to See Invisible People" - Read More>
Connecting “Heart to Heart” at Albany, OR 1st Project Homeless Connect
Led by Albany Police Captain Ben Atcheley, citizen volunteers and service providers mobilized last Thursday to host this community's first Project Homeless Connect. Read More>
California Cities - San Jose, Berkeley, San Mateo - Connect with their Homeless Neighbors - Read More>
Underscoring Role of Volunteers from All Walks of Life in Success of Project Homeless Connect
In the National Partnership to end chronic homeless constellated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the work of volunteers is key to the 10-Year Plan successes being reported by cities large and small across the country in reducing and ending homelessness, especially chronic homelessness.
The Council is especially focused on the role of innovation in achieving results and is proud to point to the innovative success in our mission achieved by the technology of Project Homeless Connect, the one-day, one-stop engagement event pioneered in San Francisco. National Volunteer Week has provided a special opportunity to underscore the work of volunteers from all walks of life who are contributing to 10-Year Plans and taking part in National Project Homeless Connect. Read More>
Having Recently Reported 43% Drop in Unsheltered Census, Fort Worth, TX Hosts Inaugural Homeless Connect
"Fort Worth is saying clearly that they're going to be part of the solution," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, who joined Mayor Moncrief for the city's Project Connect event. Read More>
Over 900 University Volunteers are Denver Partners for Project Homeless Connect
Showing once again that results are infectious and innovation is always in reach, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Mile High United Way Michael K. Durkin partnered last week with the University of Denver as UD hosted the City's fourth successful Project Homeless Connect (PHC4) and the first ever sponsored by a university. Read More>
First Time Project Homeless Connect Events Bring Partners Together in Winston-Salem and Fayetteville, NC and in Monterey, CA - Read More>
San Francisco Connects for Results
Results were in evidence, as was the theme of the 2007 National Volunteer Week - "Inspire by Example" - on April 11 at the City's 16th Project Homeless Connect event, as two formerly homeless individuals were recognized for their volunteer contributions to the innovative engagement event. Read More>
Elected Officials Commit to Pursuing Development of 10-Year Plan at 1st Project Homeless Connect in Washington County, OR
The ability of the Project Homeless Connect innovation to mobilize political and civic will to end homelessness was demonstrated this week in Washington County, Oregon. Read More>
Nation’s First 10-Year Plan City Connects Homeless with Services and the Community to their Homeless Neighbors
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, who was the first jurisdictional leader to create a jurisdictionally- based and owned 10-Year Plan, Blueprint to End Homelessness, in 2002 and this year is President of the National League of Cities, remarked "The key word is connect. It's about connecting our homeless neighbors to services they might not otherwise have access to, but it's also about connecting our community to them and seeing they're just like us." Read More>
Over 1000 Assisted at Project Homeless Connect in Rural LaneCounty, Oregon
In a county the size of Rhode Island but with a population less than one-third of Portland, Lane County officials partnered with the cities of Eugene and Springfield and the United Way of Lane County to host a Project Homeless Connect event last week that assisted 1007 individuals with the help of 450 volunteers. Read More>
More than 21,000 Homeless Guests and 9400 Volunteers Engaged Through Project Homeless Connect Events from October through December 2006 - Read More>
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