An event to help youth and adults who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless is scheduled for June 29 at Everett’s Cascade High School auditorium.
The event, called Project Homeless Connect, will provide a variety of services: haircuts, lunch, medical and dental services — even vaccinations for pets.
“It’s not a resource or information fair,” said Stephani Perin- Earling, coordinator of the event. “At Project Homeless Connect, you get the service that day.”
Last year was the first time the event was held in Snohomish County. About 500 people attended. Planners say that number could nearly double this year.
“It’s truly one of the events in Snohomish County that says, ‘Hey, if you’re homeless we’re here for you and we’ll do the best to help you out,’” said Ron Berry, who volunteered at last year’s event.
The Community Health Center of Snohomish County provided medical and dental care last year and scheduled some patients for follow-up care, said LuAnne Kay, spokeswoman for the nonprofit medical group.
Twenty-three adults and children received dental services, she said. And 88 people received medical services.
Eighteen staffers will be on-hand this year to provide dental and medical care, she said.
Everett’s Animal Shelter will provide vaccines and basic grooming services for pets. They’ll also walk and watch the pets while their owners seek out services and take pictures of pets and their owners, Perin-Earling said.
Free hot meals will be provided, and people will be seated and served, not asked to stand in a line for food, she said. “They are our guests and we want to treat them as such.”
Volunteers from The Bridge Church in Snohomish are donating at least 700 backpacks filled with toiletries. “Last year we had 250 and they were gone in two hours,” Perin-Earling said. “This year, they want to make sure everyone gets a backpack.”
Lions Club members are providing vision screenings. Mental health and alcohol and drug services are new additions to this year’s event.
Although many of those who attended last year were adults with kids, the event is open to anyone who is homeless or at risk of being homeless.
“We want to make sure that everyone knows this isn’t just for homeless adults, but people at risk of being homeless — families and teenagers, too,” Perin-Earling said.
The goal of Project Homeless Connect is to put a variety of services in one venue for one day, and make it as easy as possible for people to participate, she said.
“This event truly does work,” Berry said. “It does help people out.”
Sharon Salyer: 425-339 3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
