Project Homeless Connect
... is a one-day, one-stop offering of services designed to provide people who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness what they need to move toward housing and stability.
At Project Homeless Connect, guests work one-on-one with community volunteers to get IDs, apply for jobs and housing, see a doctor, sign up for food stamps, and connect with veterans benefits. On the same day, they can get a haircut, sign up for GED classes, meet with a pastor or other spiritual director, and eat a good meal.
Project Homeless Connect gives people and organizations who have never been involved in homelessness before a way to make a difference in their community.
Project Homeless Connect Gets Results
The 2009 Project Homeless Connect took place on September 29, 2009 at the MassMutual Center. Here'a a snapshot of what took place that day:
An estimated 1000 guests, who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness; more than 600 volunteers; and 80 service-provider agencies.
Housing - 13 people housed, with at least 10 more connected to assistance expected to lead to housing within a week of the event
- 642 people received 'housing triage' from trained housing counselors
- 576 completed applications for public and section 8 housing
- 85 completed applications for sober housing programs; 20 completed applications for other housing programs
Identification - 398 people obtained Mass IDs
- 221 people ordered birth certificates
Civic and Advocacy - 8 people registered to vote
- 68 people received advice about consumer issues, with 24 intakes or follow-up appointments made
- 2 people went to court to address outstanding warrants--one was a homeless veteran who was able to get his driver's license after getting the warrant lifted
- 23 people received information or advice regarding immigration issues
Health - 76 people completed MassHealth applications
- 41 people obtained health exams/direct medical care
- 55 people obtained chiropractic care
- 40 people received foot care
- 2 people went to detox
- 8 applications were completed for the Statewide Head Injury Program
- 6 people obtained mental health screens, and 13 mental health appointments were made
- 150 blood sugar screens completed, with 8 people with high blood sugar provided follow-up appoinments
- 110 hypertension screenings completed
- 225 dental screenings completed, with 22 follow-up appoinments made
- 16 HIV/STD tests completed, with 3 follow-up appointments made
- 50 TB tests completed
- 92 skin cancer/sun damage screenings completed
- 45 eye exams completed, with anyone needing a prescription given a follow-up appointment to obtain free eyeglasses
- 244 reading glasses and 290 sunglasses distributed
Income and Public Benefits - 21 Social Security Administration applications completed
- 25 people obtained Social Security cards
- 31 people applied for food stamps
- 20 people received information about fuel assistance
- 82 people received assistance with tax information & returns
- 22 people obtained information about free cell phones and minutes from SafeLink Wireless
Veterans Services - 22 people applied for Veterans' benefits
- 35 people accessed veterans' services, with 6 follow-up appointments made
Other - 525 people obtained haircuts
- 200 bus tickets were given out
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Project Homeless Connect 2010: Get Involved!
Springfield’s next Project Homeless Connect will take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield.
DONATE to Project Homeless Connect: send a check to The United Way of Pioneer Valley, 184 Mill St., Springfield, MA 01108, and write “Project Homeless Connect” in the memo line. We need to raise $16,000 for the event, most of which will go toward the cost of IDs and birth certificates for guests, as well as for food for the event.
VOLUNTEER to assist guests at Project Homeless Connect on September 15, 2010: contact Chris Abro, (413) 539.8406, cabro22411@aol.com. Project Homeless Connect is also a volunteer opportunity for the United Way of Pioneer Valley's Day of Caring.
Be a Project Homeless Connect SERVICE PROVIDER
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