For Release On:

September 13, 2007

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Central Oregon Partnership Challenges Community to End Homelessness

Project Homeless Connect Lets Neighbors Help Neighbors

BEND, Ore. – During a 15-hour stretch on January 25, 2007, volunteers counted more than 2000 people in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties who were homeless. More than 700 were school-age children.

“If all the homeless children in Central Oregon were gathered together, they would fill a dozen school buses. Everyone, especially children, deserve an opportunity to succeed in school and in life, and that is tied to having a stable home. To succeed, you need a place to call home,” says Jim Schell, executive director of Central Oregon Partnership.

The Partnership and a tri-county coalition of public and private advocates are teaming up to do something about it. Project Homeless Connect, spearheaded by the Homeless Leadership Council and sponsored by The Partnership, is an ambitious step toward a ten year plan to end homelessness in Central Oregon.

On Saturday, October 13, hundreds of hard-working families, struggling seniors, veterans and others can take a bus to the Hooker Creek Event Center at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center for a community resource event called Project Homeless Connect. Guests will be able to see a doctor and a dentist, get support on finding and obtaining affordable housing and job opportunities, make a long-distance phone call, receive basic necessities, and access numerous other community services, all under one roof. [Note: For a better idea of what Project Homeless Connect looks like in action, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1-K0-GC7jM]

According to Suzy Reininger, co-chair of Homeless Leadership Council, referral services and continuing care will be available after the event as well. “This event is a best practice model designed to make a lasting difference for those who participate,” she says.

Project Homeless Connect began in San Francisco in 2004 and has been replicated in numerous other metropolitan areas across the country, including Eugene, Oregon. Central Oregon’s Project Homeless Connect will be the first time the project has been attempted on a regional scale in a largely rural setting.

Central Oregon Partnership has signed on as a title sponsor and additionally has issued a challenge grant to match community donations up to $2500. Cascade Health Services has donated $3000 to the event, and Pahlisch Homes has committed $1000 and challenged other members of the Central Oregon Builders Association to do the same.

“Project Homeless Connect gives everyone a chance to pitch-in, to help hard-working families who are struggling to make ends meet,” says Schell. “We are going to work together beginning October 13, and change lives and the way the community works together.”

Project Homeless Connect is currently seeking professionals - particularly doctors, dentists and their staff – to provide physical and mental health care services to guests. In addition, organizers are seeking volunteers to greet guests, provide translation services, give haircuts and perform dozens of other important jobs. The Project also needs cash and in-kind donations from local businesses and community members. To learn more about Project Homeless Connect, or to get involved, visit the new website at www.centraloregonconnect.org.

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