Chattanooga will host its eighth Project Homeless Connect on Thursday at the National Guard Armory, at 1801 South Holtzclaw Ave. Intake is open from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. This is a free event that is designed to meet various needs of those who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Project Homeless Connect is a nationwide grassroots program with the vision to provide guests access to services in one day that might take them a month to locate.
Services available Thursday include, but are not limited to: veterans services, healthcare, dental care, haircuts, a hot lunch, massage therapy, facials, employment resources, legal assistance, HIV testing and STD education, housing resources, mental health and substance abuse services, voter registration, and a myriad of social services. There will be a special area dedicated to children, a meditation area, and musical entertainment.
Free giveaway items will include clothing, footwear, snacks, personal care and toiletry items, and goodie bags will also be available.
Historically, each PHC event in Chattanooga has served a minimum of 500 guests and each guest avails themselves of dozens of services. This event is only possible thanks to the dedication, generosity, and good will of the National Guard Armory and the scores of providers, social service agencies, schools and colleges, businesses, government agencies, medical professionals, houses of faith, volunteers, and students who make it happen by donating time and goods to the effort. Those of particular note include Big River Grill, Chattanooga State, Miller-Motte, Virginia College, and Super Cuts.
Transportation will be provided between the Community Kitchen, Salvation Army, and the Armory on a continual needs basis, from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Two routes will pick up guests at 8:30 a.m.: one from Eastgate (Career Center) and another from Northgate (Dallas Bay Conference Center), with stops at Highway 153 McDonald’s and Amnicola Highway Raceway. Both return vans will leave the Armory at 2 p.m. The organizers of the event pledge that everyone will be returned to their pickup location. Thanks go to SETHRA Transit, CARTA Care-A-Van, and First Baptist Church for making transportation services available. CARTA has also donated several hundred bus passes for those who need them and participate in an exit interview.
Donations are needed of gently used clothing, sleeping bags, blankets, outerwear, rain gear, footwear, toiletries, and children’s toys. Please bring them to the Armory between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday or to Metropolitan Ministries, at 1112 McCallie Ave. on Tuesday. Monetary donations are always appreciated and can be made via Metropolitan Ministries.
http://metropolitanministries.org/
Volunteers and donated goods are still needs for this event to be a success. For more information about the event, volunteering, and donating goods or services, contact Jennifer Martin at 424-4257 or jamartin@sedev.org To register:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/042414PHC
For those on Facebook, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/PHCChattanooga
For more transportation information, call the Community Kitchen’s Kathy Long at 756-4222 ext. 3102.