The 2nd Annual PHC will almost certainly see 1500+ folks this year. I've been told it will be better structured and will use multiple levels of the Auditorium as well.
Immediately following Homeless Connect, there will be a benefit at Center Stage that will remember Velvet Thunder and announce a new project I'm working on with BigDenisHuey and the great peeps from Race To The Radio. The event will promote the new Homeless Songwriter's class being held at Room In The Inn, and I'm hoping we'll see a prominent group of folks from the music industry show up to join in.
Project Homeless Connect expects large turnout
Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Updated: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Mary Beth Schumacher, event coordinator for Metropolitan Homelessness Commission said last year’s event brought in 300 volunteers and exactly 1,078 homeless individuals. This year, officials expect 500 volunteers and 1,500 homeless individuals.
Holly McIndoe, chairwoman of PHC said the event is organized by the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission and the Nashville Chamber of Public Benefits. She said it is a one day event that places service providers from all over Nashville in one location so homeless individuals can easily access the services they need.
“Project Homeless Connect is a service for the homeless to come get medical care, birth certificates, legal assistance and all kinds of other services that would usually require them to go all over Nashville,” Schumacher said. “This year, with the way the economy is looking, we may end up serving people who are not considered homeless, but who need the services.”
Schumacher said this factor may increase the number of homeless individuals seeking services, surpassing expectations.
Schumacher said PHC came to Nashville for the first time last year, connecting homeless individuals with more than 5,500 services from 50 service providers in one location. The event began in San Francisco and takes place all over the country.
Schumacher said Clifton Harris, the director of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, visited a PHC event in Denver and was inspired to bring it to Nashville.
“It’s definitely been a unique experience,” McIndoe said. “If you put everyone in the same place with all these services, good things are going to happen.”
Schumacher said she is responsible for recruiting the service providers. Each provider she recruits sets up a booth the day before the event, she said.
Businesses or institutions that cannot be on-site service providers have the option of sponsoring the event. The Homeless Commission’s Web site, thekeyalliance.org, stated that sponsors are needed to help cover the overhead costs of the services which include medical care, replacing lost identification and food.
Thekeyalliance.org stated that in addition to covering overhead costs, sponsors help finance the campaign for Project Homeless Connect. It stated the event is publicized by television, radio and print sources to bring awareness to potential service providers and volunteers.
The Homeless Commission’s Web site stated that the event has gained national recognition and last year, two members of the White House Administration along with the director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The chairwoman of PHC said she hopes to host a similar event in the spring or summer, which will provide dental care or some type of medical service for homeless individuals because the event has been so effective.
“We had one man who came to the event last year and stood in the employment line and almost gave up, but a volunteer encouraged him to wait,” McIndoe said. “Today, he has a job at Goodwill and he is getting an apartment next week.”
“Project Homeless Connect is not the solution to all problems, but it is one way to start working towards a solution,” McIndoe continued. “It would be great if every day could be like [a] Project Homeless Connect event.”
For information about volunteering for the event, visit thekeyalliance.org/phc-volunteer.
