According to the Homeless Alliance of Western New York's pre-recession research from 2007, 2000 people in Buffalo sleep without shelter every night due to poverty and unemployment, the two biggest catalysts of homelessness.
On Nov. 17 at 10 a.m., the WNY Coalition for the Homeless, in partnership with the Homeless Alliance of WNY, will be sponsoring the second annual Project Homeless Connect (PHC) event at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
PHC is a venue for businesses and organizations to volunteer to pool a variety of resources and free on-site services to be available for the homeless at one place.
"This is a one-stop-shop to provide [our clients] with as many services as possible," said Irene Pijuan, a staff member at the WNY Homeless Alliance. "Although some people will not accept the services and opportunities, they will at least get a hygiene package and a meal."
Fifty to sixty organizations will be offering services to help cope with some aspects of homelessness including shelter, food, medical care, and other basic needs.
"We [have] provided 1,500 services ranging from [Department of Social Services] applications, to haircuts, dental referrals, and we try to provide the most comprehensive care," said Kathleen Heim, co-chair of PHC and board member of WNY Coalition for Homelessness.
Heim adds that PHC protects the privacy of all individuals in attendance.
Services will also include applications for food stamps, Medicaid, drug recovery assistance, and other basic services for the coming winter season. All clients will receive hygiene packages, winter gear, and warm blankets.
There will be emergency and transitional housing available, and housing and financial counselors will offer assistance to those in attendance.
PHC will also offer photo identification services.
According to John Morrissey, volunteer coordinator for PHC and member of WNYCFTH, finding a sufficient number of volunteers and caseworkers is vitally important for the event.
"[The hardest part about organizing this event] is the logistics and getting everyone together for one day," Morrissey said. "Last year, we had over a 400-person response. [It's about] making resources available and preserving an individual's dignity. Nothing is being imposed the homeless and [we want to eradicate] social stigmas about dehumanizing them because this event [strives to] re-empower the homeless and help them reach these services. "
PHC started in San Francisco and has served as a model to inspire activists and volunteers in over 40 states. The event has transcended national borders and has been replicated in Canada and Australia.
"On one hand it brings awareness [to unfit living conditions]," Pijuan said. "But it [also] allows organizations to make a difference in their community and get involved in helping out the homelessness situation."
PHC is 100 percent dependent on donations and funding by the WNY Coalition for the Homeless.
WNY Coalition for the Homeless is a non-staffed volunteer organization of homeless alliances from Western New York.
"I encourage everyone, regardless of their skill set and social status, to come to the event and get a social perspective on a situation they may have never thought of," Heim said.
For more information on the event, visit http://wnyhomeless.org/phc/ or http://www.projecthomelessconnect.com/.
For those interested in volunteering, contact ProjectHomelessConnectBuffalo@gmail.com
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
