PORT ANGELES — The third annual Clallam County Project Homeless Connect, an annual service fair for local people who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing, is Friday.
Homeless Connect will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
It will offer same-day services ranging from food, clothing, haircuts and massage to medical and dental screening, legal help, housing resources, mental health services and services for veterans.
All services offered by the 45 service providers — including food provided by the Port Angeles Food Bank and Salvation Army — are free, said Mercy Luquetta-Cole, chairwoman of Project Homeless Connect.
“It’s a one-day, one-stop, one-goal communitywide event that provides a starting place on the journey back to safety, stability and hope for people in our community who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless,” said Luquetta-Cole.
About 350 people are expected to attend.
Some 110 volunteers are offering services and hospitality at the fair, Luquetta-Cole said.
Sample of services
Serenity House of Clallam County will offer housing resources.
Dental screenings will be provided by Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics, which will provide vouchers for follow-ups, Luquetta-Cole said.
Clallam County Health & Human Services will offer services for chemical dependency and mental health.
The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society will provide pet-sitting.
The state Department of Licensing will issue identification.
Among others at the gathering will be representatives of Healthy Families of Clallam County, Forks Abuse Project, The Answer for Youth, Disabled American Veterans, Voices for Veterans, Social Security and Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers — a list that does not name all who are involved.
Free rides
Clallam Transit is donating free rides to those who want to attend, Luquetta-Cole said.
“All they have to do is get on the bus and say they are going to Project Homeless Connect,” she said.
She added that Clallam Transit also will provide vouchers for free rides to people who need to follow up after the fair.
“The main objective is hospitality, welcoming guests back into the mainstream life of their community,” Luquetta-Cole said.
The primary event sponsor is the Homelessness Advisory Committee, and lead organizing agencies are Clallam County Health & Human Services Serenity House of Clallam County.
Primary funding for Project Homeless Connect is from a Phillips Family Foundation grant and sponsorships from numerous local businesses and agencies.