Project Homeless Connect Santa Cruz

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day community wide event, held on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, that provides housing support and quality of life services to our homeless community.

To learn more or to volunteer, visit: http://phc-santacruz.org/index.html
Video produced by Marco Walsh at Community Television of Santa Cruz County

It is estimated that Santa Cruz County is home to at least 4,624 homeless individuals. Many of these individuals are homeless for the first time in their life. They are unfamiliar with the services this community has to offer and they are ashamed of their need.

Widespread foreclosures, the demands of returning veterans, and the reduction of federal funding for affordable housing are creating constant challenges in a declining economy. While the overall number of homeless in Santa Cruz County is decreasing, the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time is increasing. These individuals are unfamiliar with the services the community has to offer and they are ashamed of their need. Recognizing the changing demographics of our homeless population, local service providers understood the need for increased outreach and accessibility of services.

Project Homeless Connect was held in Santa Cruz County for the first time on March 30th 2010. More than 300 volunteers and 80 service providers connected with more than 1,000 clients, providing everything from medical screenings and dental care to clothing vouchers and a warm meal.

In less than eight hours, 105 individuals received California Identification that will allow them to access services and employment. Two hundred and fifty-one individuals connected with benefits agencies, filing applications for SNAP, TANF and SSI. Seventy-eight individuals received medical screenings, 35 received dental screenings and every single person received a warm meal.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Project Homeless Connect
• volunteer Santa Cruz
• PHCSC
• PHC