Project Connect & VA Stand Down 2008

Welcome

2008-08-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

This blog will provide up-to-date information about this year's Project Connect and VA Stand Down, scheduled for September 12th. This is truly a community-wide undertaking, and we welcome your support, input, and energy.

How this blog works: we'll post up-to-date information on the blog so that you' ll know exctly what to do & what to expect on the day of the event~!

To sign up as a volunteer for the VA Stand Down or Project Connect, click HERE

To sign up as a provider/organization that will attend Project Connect, click HERE

Thanks,
Allison Haberfield, VA Homeless Program Coordinator
Amy Sawyer, Homeless Intiative Coordinator

(see menu bar on left-hand side of this web page for our contact information!)

Meeting Schedule: Planning the Event

2008-08-07T07:02:00.001-07:00

Planning meetings are scheduled for every Thursday at 9:30AM. We'll be meeting at the First Baptist Church (5 Oak St., Asheville).

Do you remember the stone soup story? Each neighbor brought a little something to add to the soup that started with a mere stone, creating a wonderful meal that nourished everyone - like the soup, our event will only be successful with the help and expertise of the entire community! Please consider attending planning meetings to help organizers finalize details and plan the best event possible.

August 21st, 9:30AM
August 28th, 9:30AM
September 4th, 9:30AM
September 11th, 9:30AM

Invitation to the Event

2008-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

VA STAND DOWN

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th 8:30AM-Noon
Stephens-Lee Center, Downtown Asheville

WHO: Any veteran experiencing homelessness (must pre-register & show proper VA identification). Contact Allison Haberfield to determine elligiblity or for help obtaining proper documentation. Veterans are encouraged to participate in Project Connect after visiting the Stand Down, transportation will be provided.

Where: Stephens-Lee Center, 30 George Washington Carver, Asheville NC 28801

PROJECT CONNECT

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th 8:30AM-2PM
First Baptist Church, Downtown Asheville

WHO: Anyone expierencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Where: Downtown at the First Baptist Church on 5 Oak Street. (Across from the Health Department)

Why You Should Be There: This is a rare opportunity to have people from all the services you may need in one place for one day!

Event Overview

2008-08-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

The VA Stand Down and Project Connect take place on the same day: September 12th. These events are free.

The VA Stand Down brings veteran-specific providers together under one roof at the Stephens-Lee Center to provide important outreach to veterans in the area who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Veterans can pre-register for the VA Stand Down.

Project Connect brings the entire community together to provide services, information, and outreach to anyone in the Asheville-Buncombe area who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Vetrans are welcome and encouraged to visit Project Connect! Registration is not necessary for Project Connect.

Service providers will come to the event by 8AM to set-up. Services will be available in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, medical health, employment, benifits, and housing. In addition, people will have the opportunity to get hair cuts and a catered meal. Please contact us if you have ideas about who else could attend to make this event a success!!

A short opening ceremony will take place at 8:00AM. The event will open the doors at 8:30AM.

Volunteers will be recruited and trained so that every person who comes to participate in the event will have a chance to recieve a one-on-one orientation to the many services available to them. Maps and service descriptions will be available so that people do not miss out on the many oppportunities at the event.

Participants will be able to visit with any provider who is of interest. Participants will carry a form which service providers will make a note on if a service is provided. These forms will be collected and entered into the HMIS database so that we can get a collective summary of how well we were able to serve people who came to the event.

Last year, we experienced heavy rains which caused people to get wet. This year, we'll have tents outside to make sure that no one has to stand in the rain. Another new feature of this year's event is a coat/bag check. This will allow people to leave their valuables in a secure location while they participate in Project Connect.

Volunteers

2008-08-07T05:00:00.001-07:00

We need volunteers! If you would like to to volunteer, click HERE to sign up on-line. You can also contact Allison or Amy, their contact information is on the left-hand side of the page.

Volunteers will be provided orientation ahead of time– orientation takes about half an hour. Below are some volunteer jobs available:

Set Up – organize tables, help service providers set up their booths, put up signs ·
Break Down - fold up tables, sweep floor, take down posters, bag up trash
Welcome Table - greet indivduals as they walk in, instruct them where to go
Housekeeping – maintain the environment at the event - run errands for service providers, keep trash cans empty, help people as needed
Serve Food – serve prepared foods, make sure food table is clean and accessible, be prepared to help direct people as needed
Greeters - before participants start moving through the event, meet them and sit down with them, fill out a short survey about what they are interested in. Provide participants with with a map of the event, offer to accompany them to the various booths, and do so until the participant feels like they don’t need assistance any more.
Child Center – Must have child care expierence. Play with children in a special area designed with child-centered fun activities while their parents are working with other service providers. 5 volunteers per shift.
Pet Center - Must have pet care expierence. Welcome participants who have pets and work with other pet care professionals while owners are inside the event.
Exit-Survey Table – hand out short exit surveys and “goodie bags”

Volunteer groups who are participating in this event will be listed belwo. A list of the names of individuals who have volunteered is being kept with the organizers of the event. If you want to volunteer, please contact us!!

If you have ideas about this part of the event, please use the "post comments" function to post your ideas!

STAND DOWN: SERVICES

2008-08-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Services available at the VA Stand Down:

Breakfast

Showers
Hair Cuts
Supplies

Medical
Optical

VA Community Providers will available to discuss services such as employment, mental health and substance abuse.

PROJECT CONNECT: SERVICES

2008-08-07T04:59:00.001-07:00

If you have ideas about organizations, providers, or individuals who can participate in the event, contact Amy Sawyer with your ideas!

If you are part of an organization that will participate in Project Connect, please click HERE to complete an on-line survey.

Services that will be at the event include (but aren't limited to): Benefits, Child & Family Services, Employment, Housing, Medical, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Outreach and Additional Servies such as pet care and hair cuts.

Below is a list of agencies/organizations that have confirmed attendance so far... If your agency or organization isn't on the list, please complete the on-line survey or contact Amy (259-5851)

Information & Referral

A-Hope

Mountain Area Information Network

United Way's 2-1-1 Information and Referral Line

Faith-Based Supports

Church of the Advocate

First Presbyterian

Adult Supports

DSS- Medicaid & Food Stamps

DSS - Adult Protective Services

Physical Health

WNCAP

WNCCHS

Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Mental Heath

RHA Behavioral Health Services

Western Highlands

Substance Abuse

Employment

Employment Security Commission

On Track

Vocational Rehabilitiation

Housing

ABCCM Women's Shelter

A Vet's Place

Asheville Housing Authority

Homeward Bound

Other Services

Sheer Heaven (Pet care - dog sitting!)

HMIS at Project Connect

2008-08-07T03:30:00.000-07:00

This year, CHIN has partnered with Project Connect bring HMIS to the event. This means that information about the what people need and what people recieve can be recorded in the system, allowing for accurate and timely reporting on what the needs of people expierencing homelesness who attended the September 12th event are, and what our community is doing to meet those needs.

As more agencies working with people who expierence homelessness join the HMIS system this year, we will be able to expand the information about the needs of the homeless comunity and how we meet those needs beyond the Project Connect and VA Stand Down Event to every day.

EVENT VIDEOS

2008-08-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Click here to see video

about Project Connect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dgukxCW5o

about the VA Stand Down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkcvMlyF_Uw