Project Homeless Connect matches clients with volunteers in a one-of-a-kind partnership to assist chronically homeless adults connect to as many on-site services as possible in one day. To do this more than 40 service providers move their operations to a single location for a day, providing dedicated healthcare, dental and vision screenings, mental health interviews, case management, social security applications, identification services, employment resources (including for veterans), shelter and housing assessments, and much more. Volunteers are trained to assist clients navigate the array of services based upon priorities established by the client. The goal for the event, and its high level of volunteer involvement, is to eliminate some of the barriers people experience as they seek to access the very services that might help them start the return journey to stable lives. 

Volunteer with Project Homeless Connect and make a difference in the life of an individual experiencing homelessness! Project Homeless Connect brings together service providers and volunteers to connect chronically homeless adults to health care, IDs, employment skills, housing resources, and more in one location on one day. Here are some of the collective outcomes of services provided at PHC 2018: 

• Virginia Department of Social Services and the City of Richmond Dept. of Social Services worked together to provide benefit services to 140 people. This included over 75 Medicaid applications as part of the Virginia Medicaid Expansion.
• The DMV accepted applications for 119 IDs to help people in their search for jobs and housing.The Virginia Dept. of Health-Vital Records issued 134 replacement birth certificates.
• Volunteers using Virginia Housing Development Authority's affordable housing search engine helped nearly 200 people look for safe, affordable housing.
• Apex Systems, VA Career Works, OAR of Richmond, City of Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building, Snag, and Goodwill offered employment services to over 100 guests.
• Virginia Dental Association Foundation and VCU School of Dentistry performed over 50 dental services including extractions and oral exams.
• The Richmond Lion's Club connected 125 people with sight and hearing tests.
• Dozens of Veterans were connected with resources from the VA, Virginia Supportive Housing, River City Comprehensive Counseling, and Focused Outreach.
• 140 haircuts were given by local barbers and stylists. 

This is just a snapshot of all the outcomes of Project Homeless Connect 2018. There were hundreds of other services delivered by dozens of providers to our 606 guests. None of this could have been accomplished without the support of over 400 volunteers and nearly 50 service providers. Think what we can accomplish in 2019!

Registration:

• All individuals automatically register for navigator positions. If you wish to sign-up for other positions please contact [email protected] so she can check availability and keep an accurate count of who is doing what when.
• Volunteers may register for an all day or a half day navigator shift:
• All day (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
• Morning (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.), or
• Afternoon (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Community Service
Homeward's Project Homeless Connect
Tuesday, November 12, 20189 8:00 a.m. -  4:00 p.m.

Location: Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 N 3rd Street
Richmond, VA 23219