Contacts: Pearl Wolfe, Project Homeless Connect Co-Chair, 541-682-4629; Richie Weinman, Project Homeless Connect Co-Chair, 541-682-5533

Project Homeless Connect for Lane County Event

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010

Hundreds of community volunteers will spend the day helping homeless community members receive critical services and basic provisions at this year’s Project Homeless Connect for Lane County. The fourth annual event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 18 at the Lane Events Center at the Fairgrounds.

Guests of this year’s event will be offered free medical exams, dental checkups, vision care, hot meals, haircuts, bike repair, and much more. More than 80 local service agencies will be on-site to provide information on housing, employment, education, legal counsel, addiction treatment, and a variety of services available for youth, families, seniors and veterans. Giveaways of basic provisions will include items such as coats, sleeping bags, socks, scarves, hats, gloves, children’s clothing and personal hygiene items.

Last year the event served 1,548 guests. Organizers are anticipating an increase in attendance as Lane County’s homeless population rises. Results of the 2010 annual one-night homeless count, conducted by the Lane County Human Services Commission and its partners in January, revealed that 3,971 people were homeless at that time. Of those homeless, 607 were families.

Project Homeless Connect is part of a nationwide movement working to help meet the needs of people who are homeless, while engaging the local community in finding solutions for ending homelessness.

Throughout the day, Lane Transit District will provide free round-trip transportation from all its service areas to guests attending the event. The City of Eugene will provide round-trip van shuttles from the following Eugene locations: First Place Family Center at 1995 Amazon Pkwy.; Looking Glass New Roads at 941 W. Seventh Ave.; and the St. Vincent de Paul Eugene Service Station at 450 Highway 99. Transportation also will be available to serve people in Oakridge and Florence.

Media Note:  Reporters and photographers planning to cover the event, need to check in at the event’s administration booth upon arrival to receive a media/photographer’s pass. For additional information, contact Judy Riedl, Project Homeless Connect Coordinator, at 541-682-3798 or visit www.homelessconnect.org

Amber Fossen

Public Information Officer

Lane County Government

125 E. Eighth Ave.

Eugene, Oregon 97401

541.682.3718

541.359.9143 (cell)