1,558 Individuals and families received 9,500 services at Project Homeless Connect 2009

The reports of 60 service providers participating at Project Homeless Connect (PHC) last year show that more than 9,500 services were provided to 1,558 individuals and families in one day.  

PHC Nashville was held on December 9, 2009, at the Municipal Auditorium where homeless and near-homeless individuals and families were able to receive services ranging from medical screenings to foot care, legal services, employment assistance, pet care, haircuts, and more.  PHC connects people with services and helps remove barriers to housing.

Clifton Harris, director of The Key Alliance, said more than 700 volunteers had signed up to support this year's event.

"We are pleased to see that we were able to offer on average six services to every participant," Harris said.  "This would not have been possible without the help and support of so many agencies and volunteers from the nonprofit, government and private sectors.  This event truly brings together the entire community."

A sample of services provided shows the following:

     -  245 haircuts from the Paul Mitchell school;
     -  863 pairs of shoes from Soles4Souls;
     -  1,200 winter coats;
     -  358 eye screenings from Prevent Blindness;
     -  95 H1N1 and 86 flu shots from the Metro Public Health Department;
     -  125 medical screenings from United Neighborhood Health Services;
     -  126 phone calls to families/friends offered through Sprint;
     -  70 people went to Community Court;
     -  145 individual customers received legal services from Legal Aid and Homeless Experience       
        Legal Protection (H.E.L.P.); and
     -  173 people received housing information from Urban Housing Solutions.

Mary Beth Schumacher, PHC coordinator for The Key Alliance, said the services list shows all the good work that was provided on December 9.

"It was tremendous to see the outpouring of cooperation and support from all the service providers and volunteers," Schumacher said.  "This year we were able to use two floors of the Municipal Auditorium, which made it possible for us to organize an even bigger event than last year.  

At the inaugural PHC Nashville event in 2008 1,078 individuals and families received about 5,500 services.

This year's event was hosted by The Key Alliance and the Nashville Chamber Public Benefit Foundation.

The Key Alliance, an initiative of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, brings together nonprofit, faith-based, government, and for-profit organizations to create more low-income housing opportunities for the homeless.  The Key Alliance promotes Housing First-placing people into permanent housing coupled with intense case management.