Project Homeless Connect a Success
Associated Ministries’ newest homeless program is Project Homeless Connect (PHC), a series of one-day “resource fairs” that we conduct throughout the community.
The purpose of each PHC event is to provide easy access to life-changing resources for those who are unhoused, with the ultimate goal of helping participants move beyond homelessness. Available resources include medical and dental screenings and vaccinations, veterans’ services and benefits, income tax resources and career and job information, as well as enrollment in Coordinated Entry and health insurance. A free lunch for every attendee, plus free haircuts, kid’s activities, and other giveaways, create enthusiastic responses from all participants.
After a decade being produced by another organization, AM was excited to earn the opportunity to take over leadership of the PHC events earlier this year. We are committed to holding three events annually; two in Tacoma and one elsewhere in Pierce County.
The most recent PHC event took place on Friday, October 11 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 12th and Pearl in Tacoma. On that day, nearly 80 volunteers from throughout Pierce County assisted some 30 service providers in meeting vital needs for hundreds of vulnerable individuals. It was a great day!
Earlier in 2019, we held PHC events in the East County at Puyallup Nazarene Church (on June 14), and in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood at the Oasis of Hope Center (on January 25). It’s not too early to consider volunteering for our next event on Friday, January 24, 2020 in Tacoma.
We need 60-80 volunteers to serve at each PHC event, and we’re always eager to recruit participants from local congregations. These volunteer serving opportunities provide meaningful personal experiences and can translate into a deeper understanding of the issue of homelessness and wider impact within participating congregations; find out how you can help on the AM website.
Associated Ministries has effectively managed many key aspects of Pierce County’s homeless response system for many years. This new opportunity for us to lead the PHC events, which bring together our community to meet vital needs, enables AM to continue living out our historic role of convening and deploying people of faith and good will to serve the vulnerable. We appreciate your support of AM and Project Homeless Connect!