Yesterday, Project Homeless Connect hosted a room full of agencies geared towards helping the homeless and nearly homeless.
The event’s current coordinator, Marti Slater, started it three years ago after attending Anchorage’s Project Homeless Connect and realized it was just as needed on the Kenai Peninsula.
Slater: “A one day, one stop event where homeless and those who are at risk of being homeless can come and get information about services that could help them in one place. They don’t have to ride all over town. They are able to fill out applications for various services while they are here and hopefully be able to maybe find housing or jobs.”
Some services available at the event were free lunch donated by various local restaurants, haircuts were provided by hairdressers donating their time, and a masseuse also offered free massages. Slater said it is important that everybody feels like somebody cares and sometimes people just need a haircut to feel better about themselves.
Cheri Smith with the LeeShore Center said homeless problems can present themselves in a variety of different ways.
Smith: “It could be that maybe they have a home but maybe they don’t have any heat, maybe they don’t have any money to properly winterize it. I mean there’s a lot of different issues as far as homeless. Couch surfing is huge with some of the kids around here. And even family members, staying with other family members. Indicators really kind of run the gamut.”
Smith also said she doesn’t think the size of the problem is fully recognized throughout the community and this is a great way to document the extent of people in need in the area.
The Project Homeless Connect is staffed by mostly volunteers from around the community, various churches, and people representing various agencies who are donating their time.