Event looks to connect homeless with help

Published 10:12 pm Monday, June 29, 2009

EVERETT — An event to provide food, medical care and other services to the homeless and help them connect with other programs to provide them help, will take place today at Cascade High School’s auditorium.

This is the first time Project Homeless Connect has been offered in Snohomish County, although similar events have been held elsewhere across the country.

The event is taking place at a time when some families and individuals are either facing homelessness or the threat of homelessness for the first time because of the economic recession, said Dana Libby, who helps lead the Snohomish County chapter of the Salvation Army.

“The margin is gone for so many people now,” Libby said. “We’re seeing people hitting that point where they have no financial cushion.”

The event was organized by Stephani Earling, who took on the project a little more than a year ago as part of a college internship with the county’s Department of Human Services.

Earling has since graduated from Western Washington University and has continued her volunteer work for the event.

The goal is to provide one event where the homeless can find out about services that are available to them, she said. Dental cleaning, haircuts, blood pressure and glucose checks and a hot meal are some of the services that will be available.

Those who attend Project Homeless Connect can also hear about programs for veterans and state benefits, such as food stamps, that they may qualify for.

Overall, about 40 organizations will be at the event, she said.

One local volunteer with experience in the food industry, Jim Gregoire, organized a hot meal for the event, Earling said. A church in Snohomish donated 280 backpacks filled with personal hygiene products.

The first Project Homeless Connect was held in San Francisco in 2004. Pierce County held its event last fall and it was attended by more than 800 people, she said. And Whatcom County had a turnout of 900 for a similar event in January.

So event planners say as many as 900 homeless adults could turn out for today’s event.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.

Help for the homeless

The first ever Project Homeless Connect is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Cascade High School’s auditorium, 801 E. Casino Road, Everett.

Hearing, dental and vision screenings will be provided, along with food, haircuts, personal hygiene supplies and pet food. A hot meal will be served.

Everett Transit is providing free transportation to the event.