Homeless Services Network of Central Florida

300 Homeless Expected at East Project Homeless Connect on July 18, 2008

Mr. Murphy remembers last year’s Project Homeless Connect  as the day that he found hope after more than 20 years of homelessness. He attended Project Homeless Connect (PHC) a one day event to provide shelter, services, and hospitality in a convenient one-stop model directly to men, women and families experiencing homelessness. The warm welcome of the volunteers and the lure of getting a driver’s license and help for his medical needs overcame his fear and anxiety. Today, Mr. Murphy is living in an apartment. He qualified for Social Security benefits, is working part-time and added twenty pounds to his formerly gaunt frame.

Annually in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties, there are more than 3,000 chronically homeless individuals and families living in camps, on the streets, in vehicles and in abandoned buildings. There are more than 40 homeless camps in East Orange County.  It is this segment of the population – the invisible homeless — that Project Homeless Connect serves by offering practical, compassionate services that encourage participants to re-engage with agencies that can help them back to shelter, self-sufficiency and a productive life.

On  Friday, July 18 from  8 a.m. – 2 p.m. more than 40 community agencies, churches and local government representatives will offer showers, meals, shelter, employment opportunities, mental health and substance abuse services, ID cards and driver’s licenses, birth certificates, access to Social Security for claims and replacement cards, job training programs, job interviews and legal services.  More than 150 volunteers will ensure the delivery of customized services to meet the needs of each participant.

Prior PHC events in Osceola, Seminole, East Orange and West Orange Counties and the City of Orlando have served more than 2500 homeless people  – just one of whom was Mr. Murphy. In 2008 HSN is partnering with local coordinating teams to implement three additional summer PHC events in Seminole County on July 30 at Northland, A Church Distributed, August 15 at Osceola Christian Ministry Center in Kissimmee, and September 5 at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Sponsors: Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, Spirit of Joy Church, Orange County Government

When: Friday, July 18, 2008, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Where: Spirit of Joy Church, 1801 Rouse Road at the intersection Colonial Drive and Rouse Road

Schedule:

• 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. 150 volunteers, 45 service providers arrive and 200+ homeless individuals line up for services.
• 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast meal service
• 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch meal service
• 2:00 – event closes.

Potential filming options:

• Interviews with homeless clients being provided services
• DMV/Social Security/Orange County Vital Statistics helping homeless persons obtain a driver’s license or ID.
• Mobile Medical Van providing health care services for homeless patients
• Workforce Central Florida helping homeless people register online to search for jobs
• Shelter workers interviewing homeless people to find them shelter
• Haircuts for homeless people provided by Paul Mitchell Salons

Contact:
Catherine Jackson, Executive Director, Homeless Services Network of Central Florida
(407) 416-6713 (cell and onsite)
cathy {at} hsncfl(.)org

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