Category All Art Classes Classical Music Concerts DANCE Etc Exhibits Families Farmers Markets Film Happenings Holiday Holiday Lectures Music (non-classical) Theater

Submit events

PHOTOS BY CLARE JENSEN

HOMELESS CONNECT. Attendees to Washington’s first ever Project Homeless Connect could get a variety of free services through volunteer support at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall Oct. 10. PLU student Ilona Kamblac puts pressure on the site of a free flu and pneumonia vaccination she gave to Paul Elsesser.

Project connects homeless to services, community

Tacoma hosts the first Project Homeless Connect in the state on Oct. 10 as part of Pierce County’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.

By Clare Jensen

Imagine a place: a literal one-stop shop for all your errands.

Need a flu shot? Haircut? Eye exam? Legal advice? New clothes?

How about breakfast to start you off and lunch to carry you through your busy day?

Sounds like a pretty great service—especially since it's all free.

It's not just for anyone, though. This compact, convenient, costless arena is specifically geared for one of the most under-served populations of people.

Project Homeless Connect (PHC) allowed those in Pierce County with no home to call their own and little outside support to get all their ducks in a row Oct. 10.

"I accomplished more today than I ever would have any other day," said Josh Duerr, who got some new clothes, a haircut, dental and vision checkups, and a flu shot – not to mention a full belly.

While the concept of a homeless service fair is new to the Pacific Northwest – the event at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall was the first ever in the state of Washington – PHC has been held in 135 cities nationwide.

In some instances, people have actually entered a PHC event homeless and have literally left with a home, as larger PHC's have housing authorities present to set up permanent housing for the homeless.

Philip Mangano, executive director for United States interagency council on homelessness, said while this isn't exactly the case in Tacoma yet, it is a possibility for the future

He said the services offered at PHC still provide, if even in a small way, the beginning of the end of homelessness for many clients.

"We're ensuring access [to services] and organizing the idea of creating a trajectory out of homelessness."

Mangano said when he saw how PHC worked in San Francisco (PHC's birthplace) and other cities across the nation, he thought it as a good opportunity for Pierce County, an area with a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness.

On any given night in Pierce County, 1,600 individuals spend the night on the streets, according to Mangano.

PHC served 407 of those people between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. by giving them the opportunity to come to one place where they could take care of some much-needed business.

United Grace Church and YMCA extended those hours by providing a warm place to sleep and hot showers the night and morning before, and shuttles were sent to Eatonville, Vaughn and Prairie Ridge to pick up more folks from outside of Tacoma, according to Ellie Ottey, chair of the Pierce County Continuum of Care, who coordinated the event.

Earl Jones got just the basics on Oct. 10. He picked up a fresh pair of socks, some shampoo and a new 'do. Even though he didn't take advantage of some of the more vital services, he appreciated the fact that they were available to him.

"This is a good thing," Jones commented. "There should be more of it."

There will be, at least by next year, if not sooner.

"(This event) was targeted more towards single adults," noted Ottey. "(We hope) to have one for families in May."

Ottey added that they would be sticking with PHC as often as needed in order to get people housed, and a planning commission for the next event will begin in December.

In order to do that, though, people must be willing to donate their time, energy, services and money.

On Oct. 10, the number of volunteers was one-to-one with clients, helping with a variety of services ranging from medical, dental, veteran's and veterinary service; podiatry; and access to mental health care.

"This renews my faith in social services," said Ottey, in reference to the amount of voluntary support and commitment. "After years in the business, one can tend to get sort of jaded."

The estimated cost of the event was $20,000, with the bulk of the money provided by United Way, Boeing and Rhode Home Leadership Team.

Aside from serving the homeless population, PHC provides opportunities for students in the medical fields to get some hands-on experience. Pacific Lutheran University nursing student Ilona Kamblac got the knack for administering vaccinations, while Lynn Fegley and Heidi King from Tacoma Community College were able to get experience handling a population they wouldn't ordinarily interact with.

"Meeting people who don't have access to [medical services], it's heartbreaking and it's rewarding," said Fegely.

Fegley and King both noted that the atmosphere was a lot warmer and laid-back then they had expected.

"[The environment] puts everyone on the same playing field," commented King.

John Ramsey thought so, too.

"I didn't think it was going to be so well-organized," Ramsey said after getting a haircut. "I thought they were just going to shuffle us all through."

Mangano agrees, and mentioned that PHC is often a two-way street for connecting homeless people with volunteers and vise versa.

"[PHC] restores self-esteem and dignity through hospitality," declared Mangano. "It dispels myths and stereotypes for the volunteers."

For information on volunteering in future Project Homeless Connect events, visit www.pchomelessconnect.org.

Story Tools