PHC 6 Highlights
Some Statistics
- 850 clients/guests
- 350 volunteers
- 49 agencies
- 800 meals
San Jose’s Sixth Project Homeless Connect Meets Greatest Success Yet
As San Jose temperatures rose to a record high for May 15th, homeless clients, service providers, and volunteers gathered at the City’s sixth Project Homeless Connect (PHC) event to set some records of their own. Since the City of San Jose began hosting these one-day, one-stop shop events for the homeless and at-risk in 2005 they have met with tremendous success; the latest event built on this success with an expanded array of services offered and record numbers of services given.
The doorways of San Jose’s McEnery Convention Center opened wide to admit about 850 clients and over 300 volunteers. 800 meals were served by City Team Ministries and 253 haircuts were given by students at Gavilan College’s Department of Cosmetology.
For the first time there was a significant local landlord presence at the event courtesy of the efforts of Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s Adam Moreno. These landlords added their resources to those of homeless service providers including EHC LifeBuilders and InnVision, both a consistent presence at PHC. As a result, 2 people received keys to their new homes on the day of the event. At least 15 other PHC clients have moved into housing since the event or will move in soon.
For these clients, Project Homeless Connect provided much more than a simple metal key, it provided a hand up to regaining self-sufficiency and, with it, a stable foundation from which to pursue their dreams. And with follow-up appointments yet to come, the numbers of those who will move into housing as a result of PHC will increase in the coming months, spreading a wealth of golden keys into housing as they come.
Also for the first time at this event clients had onsite access to primary medical care provided by Gardner Family Health Network, Inc., which has been a stalwart presence at previous events, providing other medical services. Thanks to this added service, Gardner provided 36 PHC clients with primary medical care.
Cynthia, a volunteer at the event, helped clients access medical and other services. “I helped four homeless men get medical and dental, to get showers and haircuts,” she said, “I left home today with a great feeling, knowing I helped someone less fortunate than myself. I feel this is a great event.”
These numbers are indicative of PHC’s success and particularly of the growth San Jose’s PHC events have made since their inception in 2005. But for a more personal look at the impact of the event one may look to the words of Michael, a client and volunteer.
“Today was great. I was able to help people as a volunteer and receive help myself like an ID, haircut, plus food and clothes. The Homeless Connect Program is a success!” Michael plans to volunteer again at the next PHC event, which will be held in November or December of 2008.