PORT ANGELES — Needy people seeking shelter, medical care, health insurance, tooth extraction, vision screening, mental health services and even vouchers for pet vaccinations can find them at the Vern Burton Community Center on Friday.
Clallam County’s sixth annual Project Homeless Connect will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the center at Fourth and Peabody streets.
“Each year, some people who are homeless when they come in have a safe place to go home to by the end of the day,” said Mercy Luquetta-Cole, director of Clallam County Homeless Outreach, the project’s organizer.
“Everyone who comes gets some help that makes life a little easier for them and helps them to be able to get and keep safe housing,” she added.
Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics low-cost clinic manager Mary Hogan said on-site medical services will include wound care, diabetes screening, influenza and vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis for uninsured adults, and information on screening for cervical, colon and breast cancer.
“We will also provide help with health insurance enrollment,” she said.
SmileMobile on hand
For the third year, the SmileMobile will provide pain-relief tooth extraction dentistry for adults.
Vision screenings will be available in the morning, and other wellness services are signing on daily.
Peninsula Behavioral Health will provide mental health services. Clallam County Health and Human Services will address chemical dependency.
Veterinary services will not be offered on site, but the Clallam County Humane Society will distribute free pet food and vouchers for pet vaccinations. Volunteers will look after pets whose owners have no safe place to leave them while their owners access services.
Mobile office
The state Department of Social and Health Services’ mobile office will be in the parking lot to process benefit claims.
“We will have more than 40 non-medical services available inside,” said services coordinator Debbie Tesch.
They will include haircuts, vocational education, giveaway items, state identity cards and other things that help people find employment and affordable housing.
Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will manage the clothing closet. Independent Bible Church will provide clean socks, many of them donated through a sock drive at Jim’s Pharmacy.
Besides fielding housing inquiries, Serenity House will provide on-site child care.
Peninsula Housing Authority, Olympic Community Action Programs, WorkSource, six veterans service groups, parent and youth support services, and legal aid also will be on hand.
Participants will be fed a hot breakfast and lunch organized by Reath Fullmer-Ellefson, with donations from the Port Angeles Food Bank, Salvation Army and Costco.
Clallam Transit will provide free rides to and from the center.
Clallam County Homeless Outreach is an all-volunteer, tax-deductible nonprofit group that organizes Project Homeless Connect and other activities.
To volunteer or donate, contact CCHO at P.O. Box 804, Port Angeles, WA 98362; or email clallamcounty.homelessoutreach@gmail.com.
