Media Advisory: ‘Project Homeless Connect’ Event Tomorrow Aims to Help the Homeless in Fort Collins

Homeward 2020 – an initiative of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado that seeks to end homelessness in Fort Collins by 2020 – and the Colorado State University Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement (SLiCE) Office are sponsoring the first-ever “Project Homeless Connect” event in Fort Collins tomorrow, April 23.

WHERE/WHEN:
The event will be held from 8 a.m. – noon at the University Center of the Arts, 1400 Remington Street in Fort Collins.

DETAILS:
The event’s focus is to help find solutions to homelessness in the community with fundamental support of the homeless population in the area through an array of resources. Project Homeless Connect will provide immediate free access to important services including: dental and medical screenings, haircuts, employment assistance, grocery cards, homeless gear, bike repair and legal services. Free transportation will be provided by Green Ride Colorado and the event also offers free breakfast and lunch.

Project Homeless Connect will bring together people and organizations that have never been involved in homelessness in a direct effort to make a difference in their community. About 150 CSU students will be paired one-on-one with homeless and near-homeless clients, escorting them to the different stations at the event.

Project Homeless Connect is a national program and events vary in size, content and frequency in each community, but share a common intent – to remedy the homelessness of their neighbors. The under-one-roof offerings for clients and the mobile hospitality of volunteers who act as escorts and conductors for their homeless neighbors help lower their barriers and achieve results. Events catalyze community involvement, generating new partnership, commitment, and investment to end homelessness. Project Homeless Connect gives people and organizations that have never been involved in homelessness before a way to make a difference in their community.

For more event information and a list of community partners, please visit http://www.homeward2020.org/projecthomelessconnect.php.

CONTACT:
To schedule an interview, contact Bryce Hach at (970) 412-1290 or bryce@Homeward2020.org or Jennifer Dimas at (970) 491-1543 or Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu.
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