CATHOLIC CHARITIES NEWS RELEASE – More than 750 homeless men, women and children, will be welcomed and connected to service providers at the 2014 Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, February 5, at the Reno Events Center from 7:00 a.m. to Noon.
The event, coordinated by Catholic Charities & the St. Vincent’s Programs, provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness to free services such as medical care, social services, housing information, and quality of life services such as haircuts and massages.
This is the sixth year of the event and has become an effective, organized effort to coordinate services and fortify those who are dealing with poverty and homelessness.
Participation largely comes from agencies belonging to the Reno Area Alliance for the Homeless, but several individuals, faith communities and service organizations volunteer and provide needed donations which include toiletries, socks, hats, underwear and gloves.
“Project Homeless Connect is a step in helping change our homeless response system where services are woven together and collaborative providers are focused on the same goal: Ending Homelessness,” says Anne Schiller, Director of Program Operations for Catholic Charities & the St. Vincent’s Programs.
Having a one-stop-shop day:
• Improves access to services and housing for people experiencing homelessness in Reno-Sparks.
• Engages with and maintains an active, involved volunteer base that consists of local businesses, nonprofits, and individual community members all working together to help end homelessness.
• Improves the system of care through collaboration and the sharing of best practices among our homeless service provider community.
Project Homeless Connect is a nation-wide best practice and is currently held in more than 200 communities around the world each year. Each community identifies a time of the year that best fits the needs of their homeless population.
Established in 1941, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (CCNN) is a Nevada-based, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation operating nine human service programs including: St. Vincent’s Dining Room, St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, St. Vincent’s Resource Network, St. Vincent’s Affordable Housing, St. Vincent’s Thrift Shop, Holy Child Early Learning Center, Immigration Assistance Program, Adoption Program, and the Kids to Seniors Korner Program. CCNN is committed to providing help and creating hope in our community. From infants to seniors, CCNN assists approximately 41,000 people per month in northern Nevada.
