Denver's Road Home and Mile High United Way are seeking individuals and sponsors to help in making Project Homeless Connect 10 a success!

PHC10 will be hosted by Metropolitan State College of Denver on Friday, October 29, 2010 from 8 –noon.

The concept was started in San Francisco and modeled throughout the United States based on the basis of the Veteran’s Stand Down, which occurs on Veteran’s Day annually.

PHC-10 is a one-day event held twice a year in Denver. Homeless individuals and families from across the region, and those at risk of becoming homeless, are invited to come and access the following services: screenings for comprehensive medical attention, immunizations, identification and birth certificates, legal aid, employment, housing assistance, haircuts, clothing, food, foot washing, massage, dental hygiene, counseling, evaluation and referral for benefits acquisition, child care, community court, and an array of social services that are provided throughout the region are available in this one centralized point of entry.

We need 1,000 volunteers to help out with everything from pre-event set-up to offering services at the event on October 29. Our greatest need is for volunteers to commit to working 1-1 with clients to help them navigate through the venue and connect them with needed services (Client Support Services). This is an amazing opportunity to learn more about the root causes of homelessness and connect with a person in your community experiencing homelessness. While the event runs for clients from 8am-12pm, most volunteers will be asked to commit for 4-6 hours. Please read about all volunteer opportunities and to find one that is right for you. Volunteers will be required to attend a training prior to the event; you will select a training date when you register. All registration needs to be done online, but general questions about volunteering can be directed to Desta Taye-Channell at desta.taye-channell@unitedwaydenver.org

In addition to Metro State, participating sponsors include Denver's Road Home, Mile High United Way, Regis University, Community College of Denver, University of Colorado at Denver, Auraria Higher Education Center, and Anadarko.

Sponsorship opportunities are through Lisa Betchey at lisa.betchey@unitedwaydenver.org.

This school year the liaisons who are counting those who are homeless based on the expanded Hearth Act, a federal statute assert that homeless families throughout the region of the Front Range and across America have grown by twenty percent. Organizations that work with homeless youth like Urban Peak are turning youth away and this is true for every community organization that daily opens their doors for the homeless. The estimates are that we will be unable to serve the most vulnerable diverse community this winter. On December 21, there is a national day of mourning and we read the names of those who have died on the steps of the City and County Building of Denver. We are looking at a surge in numbers of homeless families and related numbers of all populations of people who have no safe, stable and concrete way to protect themselves as the weather shifts to fall and winter.

Homeless Service providers are indicating that the numbers of those who are without a place have shifted to younger people who usually would not mix in the general food lines and day shelters. There is a waiting list for all direct services such as mental health, clinics, emergency rooms, release from all institutions, numbers who are increasing in ways that have not been evident in the nation’s history.

Regional planning has occurred because resources are scarce. It costs $100,000.00 in Aurora to voucher the people who need assistance for more than 150 days during the winter. Salvation Army will once again expand its emergency assistance and take in 130 single men from October to May, but that doesn’t begin to cover the gap. We call upon all religious organizations, who by right determined by federal law, can shelter people within the mission of their communities and to comply with the local ordinances of safety and provide a safe place for people from the time that emergency shelter are needed throughout this winter. We are asking for people to examine the need to declare a state of emergency and open their doors to the poor.

Shelters need to be sited in all communities with a dedicated central dispatch through the United Way to maintain up to the minute responses to assist in placing people in the areas where they’re living. We need 100's of faith groups to cover the needs of difficult and diverse populations. We need a partnership of staff from the day shelters to assist in helping to maintain the volunteer’s needs to staff these emergency shelters. We need the will of the neighborhood groups to welcome and embrace the most vulnerable citizens of their neighborhoods. In short, it will take a village to house a nation.


Project Homeless Connect - TEN will take place Friday morning October 29, and into the early afternoon at the Physical Education Building on Auraria Campus

Mile High United Way is over the 20th Street Bridge and I-25 on 18th Street at the corner of the intersection .
Wed. 10/20 MHUW 11:30 - 1 founder's rm
Mon. 10/25 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Sat. 10/23 10:30 - noon

Auraria Campus: Tivoli Student Union
Mon. 10/18 Tivoli Student Union: Rm 30 B - C Baerresen Ballroom
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Thurs. 10/21 A - C 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Tues. 10/26 B - C 11:30 - 1 p.m.
Wed. 10/27 rm. 640 Zenith
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. and until 3 p.m.