Safe House for Women spearheading Project Homeless Connect event

Each year, social service organizations in Cape Girardeau County work to organize Project Homeless Connect.

The eight-hour event is held the first Friday in October and brings together dozens of service providers in the fields of health, legal, family services and more in one location to help people in need.

This year's event will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 2 at the Osage Centre, 1625 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. To make the event a success and assist as many people as possible, organizers need help from volunteers, sponsors and service providers.

The coordinating agency for the event this year is Safe House for Women. Community Caring Council was the coordinating agency for the first three years, said Safe House executive director Jessica Hill, and her agency has agreed to take on the role for the next three years.

So far, the event has been a success, consistently attracting more than 300 men, women and children.

"The event is for individuals in our community who are homeless, are at risk of homelessness or facing other financial challenges, or are in need of additional services," Hill said. "The Cape Girardeau community really comes together to put on this event."

More than 50 service providers attend each year. Those in attendance can receive help in areas that include benefits and identification, such as food stamps, birth certificates, Social Security cards and state identification cards; housing resources from organizations such as Safe House, the Amen Center near Delta and Habitat for Humanity; legal assistance, including probation and parole; assistance from medical providers; veterans services; and children and family resources. Personal hygiene items and haircuts will be available, and a food truck from the SEMO Food Bank also will be there, Hill said.

A "kids zone" will provide child care for parents attending the event and information on family resources.

"What sets this event apart is the scale, because so many service providers are dedicated to being in the same place in one day. So people really can access everybody right there," she said.

For those in need, the event allows them to seek help by walking booth to booth, rather than finding a way to travel across the county, Hill said. That's why organizers always are looking for more service providers to become involved.

Agencies and organizations that so far have not been involved with Project Homeless Connect are welcome to participate. Hill said organizers are looking for groups that can provide services the day of the event.

Because of costs associated with renting the Osage Centre, providing lunch for participants and purchasing supplies, Hill said the event is largely dependent on sponsors and donations.

The contributions are tax-deductible, and staff members from Safe House involved in the event organizing can help interested parties with donating or becoming sponsors.

Businesses and civic groups also could contribute to the event by forming a volunteer team. Groups and individual volunteers are needed for half- and full-day shifts, Hill said.

Anyone interested in learning more about Project Homeless Connect or participating as a service provider, sponsor or volunteer can call Safe House for Women at 335-7745.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.