Sacramento hosted its third Homeless Connect on May 22, 2010 at Sacramento City College, with the Salvation Army as its Presenting Sponsor! It was truly an amazing event, and one that couldn’t have happened without the hard work of over 400 volunteers, 300 staff, and 60 service providers.

If you would like to donate money to Homeless Connect, please contact Kate Towson at ktowson@communitycouncil.org

Here are some successes from Homeless Connect:

• 750 guests attended the event, and 700 guests were served BBQ lunches, cooked by the Salvation Army

• Over 500 giveaway bags, prepared by the Salvation Army, were given to guests as they exited the event

• 39 guests were served through legal services

• 150 guests came through the Job Readiness Fair for information

• 100 blankets and 75 sleeping bags were distributed

• 120 folks received free California State ID’s

• 30 guests received medical screening, treatment and prescriptions from the Willow Clinic

• 21 guests were placed into a primary medical home through the Effort

• 18 women were screened to receive free mammograms through the Healthy Breast Project, and 42 women filled out breast cancer risk-assessment surveys for the Project

• 63 guests were tested for HIV/AIDS

• 45 guests were treated by a chiropractor

• 90 guests visited the Lion's Club Vision Van

• 111 guests were screened by a dentist

• 30 SSI/SSDI claims were processed by the Social Security Administration, as well as 70 Social Security card applications, 2 appeals and 9 status change requests

• 50 guests accessed veterans services

• 40 women were seen by C.A.S.H. (Communities Against Sexual Harm)

• 400 condoms were distributed by Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

• 190 surveys were completed for Healthcare for the Homeless program; 180 Homeless Employment surveys were completed and 112 Hunger surveys were completed

• 190 guests received haircuts

• 60 guests received foot-washing services

• 60 bikes were repaired; 20 adult bikes and 20 kids bikes were raffled

• 20 bike helmets were given away

• 60 women visited Mary Kay Cosmetics

• Housing Services:

  • 125 people were assessed by Cottage Housing, Inc. for their programs.

  • 30 guests were helped by Lutheran Social Services to fill out applications for their Saybrook, Youth and THPF programs; 30 guests received information regarding the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

  • 70 guests were seen by Sacramento Self-Help and are currently being assessed for housing

  • 75-100 guests were seen by Transitional Living & Community Support, Inc. (TLCS)

  • 3 guests were housed by Jackey Cares Housing

  • 30 guests were seen by SAEHC, one family housed in their shelter, 7 clients were given motel or other vouchers.

  • 7 individuals were housed by Volunteers of America in the ILPR program with follow-up appointments set for the following week.

**more housing numbers TBD

Thank you everyone who attended and contributed to the event!

Homeless Connect 2010 in the local media! 

Homeless Connect 2010 was covered by Syd Fong in the Sacramento Press

Homeless Connect 2009 was covered by SN&R and Capital Public Radio. Thank you for covering this important community social issue.

“Living Homeless” from June 11, 2009 issue of the Sacramento News and Review 

“Living Homeless” radio series on Capital Public Radio

Please click here for a list of the generous sponsors and contributors who helped support Homeless Connect 2010

Modeled after San Francisco’s Project Homeless Connect, this one‐day resource fair brings together a wide range of services for homeless people in a consumer‐centric “one stop shop” format. After SF pioneered this event in 2004, it has occurred in over 100 communities across the United States and abroad. Check out the national scene at the United States Interagency Council’s website. Also see San Francisco’s event website, www.sfconnect.org.

Benefits of Homeless Connect:

• Connects homeless individuals to important services all in one place, reducing frustration and increasing awareness about possible sources of assistance
• Inspires community members to help end homelessness
• Businesses, faith‐based groups, and colleges have the opportunity to make personal connections with people in need
• Helps debunk common myths and stereotypes about people who are homeless

Volunteers and staff at the 2008 event