Project Homeless Connect 2017 to Help Hundreds in Denver Access Vital Services and Resources

Free event connects people experiencing homelessness to much-needed health, legal, employment, 
and wellness resources

For those who are living without a home in Denver, accessing simple necessities can be a monumental task requiring time, transportation, and resources they just don’t have. On Tuesday, September 19, the City and County of Denver, in partnership with Mile High United Way, aims to close the access gap by bringing more than 100 service providers together at the Colorado Convention Center for Project Homeless Connect 2017 (PHC 2017). These service providers will provide free resources and resource navigation to more than one thousand people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Nearly 20 percent of Denver respondents to the annual Point in Time study report job loss or inability to find work as a contributing factor to homelessness. PHC 2017 provides homeless families and individuals access to crucial employment resources and many other basic services in one place, removing the barriers of time and transportation and connecting people to more resources in a shorter period of time.

“Project Homeless Connect is a one-stop-shop that connects our most vulnerable residents with the crucial services and resources they need to get back on their feet,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “It’s a perfect example of what can be achieved when city agencies, community organizations and Denver residents come together with a common goal.”

PHC 2017 will be held on Tuesday, September 19 at the Colorado Convention Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. PHC 2017 will be staffed by hundreds of volunteers and will include representatives from more than 100 community organizations and roughly 30 local employers or recruiters.

The free one-day event is open to people of all ages who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. During the event, individuals and families are paired, one-on-one, with volunteers who help them access dozens of vital resources and services, including basic medical exams, employment advice and services, food assistance, official identification, public benefits, hygiene items, haircuts, and other community-provided services.
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Who:               Speaking at the Welcome Ceremony will be:
Chris Conner, Interim Director of Denver’s Road Home
What:              Project Homeless Connect 17
When:             Tuesday, September 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
                        Welcome Ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m.
Where:            Colorado Convention Center, Exhibit Hall C