Heavy snowflakes fell outside of the Kenai City Council chambers on Wednesday, serving as a reminder that there are far too many Kenai residents without homes who are bearing the snowfall without secure cover. It seemed an appropriate backdrop for the Kenai Peninsula Continuum of Care to provide their 2021 update regarding Project Homeless Connect, an annual event offering support to the homeless.
Jodi Stuart represented the organization virtually and spoke to the council, stressing the importance of offering a voice to the homeless community in front of the council: “The essential elements: the first one is always that political and civic will to address your constituencies that don’t necessarily have a voice, those people that are marginalized and those that are often thought of as ‘other.’ The more that we get out there and talk about this issue, the more that we get the folks on the council to recognize that this issue exists, the better it’s going to be for the folks who really don’t have a voice in regards to what goes on with them.”
Project Homeless Connect is typically a one-day event offered by the Kenai Peninsula Continuum of Care. The aim is to offer local resources that someone experiencing homelessness, or near-homelessness, might need. In a typical event, volunteers spend hours guiding attendees of all ages to stations throughout one venue, allowing each individual to get what most residents consider basic necessities: haircuts, animal care via veterinarians, massages, warm clothing, eyeglasses, substance use help, mental care, and more. Vendors and volunteers collaborate to find short and long-term solutions for each individual.
This year’s event will be modified to be a “point-in-time” event, where people who are homeless or near-homeless will be outreached to. Volunteers will provide knowledge, supplies, and food for a two-week stretch.
According to Stuart, the event has shown an increase in the number of people impacted by Project Homeless Connect as the years have gone by. She also pointed out that a large number of those who participate in the event are considered to be disabled, proving that the disabled are a marginalized and underserved community on the Kenai.
Last year, 148 people sought help for the day-long event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. 76% of them experienced alcohol abuse, developmental disabilities, drug use, HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, or physical disabilities. 20% of participants stated that they were homeless due to loss of a job, but she expects that number to be higher at this year’s event, given the pandemic.
What more is needed for the organization to serve the community? For starters, a cold weather shelter, but Stuart says there is much more: “One is the emergency cold weather shelter. You’re going to hear us talk about from here until we have one, because we need a cold weather shelter for any time it is below freezing. We should have something to be able to house people in emergencies. Second, we are lacking a non-domestic violence shelter option in the City of Kenai for women and children. That has been something that is needed, as well. Our women’s shelter in Soldotna is very small and can only accommodate so many women and even fewer children, although they do try to support children. It is more difficult for the shelter in Soldotna to be able to do that – really, that’s the only non-violence shelter option that we have.”
This year’s modified Project Homeless Connect will take place from January 27 to February 10. The Kenai Peninsula Continuum of Care is seeking volunteers, and any interested parties should contact Beth Selby at beth.selby@alaska.gov or via telephone at (907) 398-7472.