As the Kenai sits in the midst of a winter chill, Wednesday marked the start of 2021’s Project Homeless Connect. However, the event is a much different affair than any of the previous years.
The Kenai Peninsula Continuum of Care traditionally offers Project Homeless Connect events during a day-long service to folks on the Kenai experiencing homelessness or near-homelessness. Stations are typically set up within the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex where participants receive basic resources to help offer what most would consider to be human necessities.
This year, COVID-19 has taken that one-day, one-roof model and made it implausible and unsafe. So, the Continuum of Care has transformed the event to a a “point-in-time” event, where the same people will be outreached to rather than invited to one location. Volunteers will provide knowledge, supplies, and food for a two-week stretch that begins today.
The event of outreach runs from today, January 27, until February 10.
Smaller events will still be offered across the peninsula where supplies will be provided to those in-need as long as they are available. On Wednesday, bags will be available at Love, Inc. and the LeeShore Center, as well as Soldotna United Methodist Church. On Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., bags will be at Nikiski North Start United Methodist Church. On Friday, folks can visit the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank from 11:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Ninilchik Senior Center and Kenai United Methodist Church will have some supplies available on February 1 and the Sterling Senior Center will on February 2.
In a typical event, volunteers spend hours guiding attendees of all ages to stations offering various forms of care: haircuts, animal care via veterinarians, massages, warm clothing, eyeglasses, substance use help, mental care, and more. What has not changed this year is that vendors and volunteers still aim to collaborate to find short and long-term solutions for each individual in-need.
Jodi Stuart spoke before the Kenai City Council earlier this month to provide an update on Project Homeless Connect. She pointed out that this effort will undoubtedly help many marginalized members of the Kenai population, especially the disabled and those suffering addition issues.
That said, Stuart believes more is needed on the peninsula to help this segment of our population: “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.”
Anyone interested in more information is advised to call (907) 420-4514.