Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event to help people living without homes easily access a variety of resources in one location

The annual Clark County Project Homeless Connect event is set for Jan. 26 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 400 S. Andresen Road in Vancouver.  Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event to help people living without homes easily access a variety of resources in one location. Offerings will include housing information, vision exams and glasses, haircuts, help signing up for social service benefits and healthcare, employment resources, clothing, hygiene items, foot washing, a pet clinic, and lunch. Anyone throughout the county who is without a home is encouraged to attend.

Interpreters will be at the event to assist people who speak American Sign Language, Chuukese, Spanish, and Russian. Shuttles to and from the event from locations around the county will be available throughout the day.  Locations include shelters, Share House, Living Hope Church, and encampments.

Thrive2Survive is organizing volunteers and logistics for the event. Amerigroup of WA, Molina Healthcare, and Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation are event sponsors. St. Joseph Catholic Church donates use of their facility, refreshments, volunteers, and lunch.

Point In Time Count

The same day, the annual countywide census of persons without homes, known as the Point In Time (PIT) Count, will take place. The count provides a one-night snapshot of what homelessness looks like in our community and contributes to state and national data and funding decisions and resources. During the last 10 days of January, agencies and volunteers from across Washington State will collect data to comply with Washington State Department of Commerce requirements. Data from the Point in Time Count will be released in May 2023 after the data is de-duplicated and analyzed.

CFTH staff and staff from partner agencies divide the county into outreach zones. Teams travel to the zones early Thursday morning and throughout the day to ask survey questions of people living outside, in a tent, in a trailer with no running water, in their car, or escaping domestic violence. Additional Outreach staff this year means teams will cover more areas and engage with more people.

The PIT survey includes voluntary questions regarding last permanent zip code, demographics, and the circumstances that contributed homelessness.  An important aspect of the count is to “de-duplicate” people who may be counted more than once that day in order to provide a more accurate count. Those staying in Clark County shelters and transitional housing will all be counted through the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

Council for the Homeless is a non-profit organization that provides community leadership, compelling advocacy, and practical solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County, WA. For more information, go to www.councilforthehomeless.org

Information provided by Council for the Homeless.