Homeless survey to draw public awareness
The Project Homeless Connect 2008 event planned for Jan. 29
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - The New Jersey 2008 Project Homeless Connect program is planned to be held thismonth in an attempt to gather information and ultimately end homelessness throughout the state.

Communitymemberswho lack a permanent residence or who are homeless are invited to participate in the program on Jan. 29 at four locations in the county, including the St. James Episcopal Church in Long Branch and at Lunch Break in Red Bank.

The homeless people in the community participating in the program will be asked to fill out surveys andwill also be given food, clothing and offered various services, including free health screenings.

The information gathered from the surveys will be used to improve access to services, increase knowledge and understanding of homeless issues and foster collaboration between nonprofit, government, private and individual volunteers in an effort to end homelessness, according to Emma J. Caban, an outreach program coordinator at the Long Branch Concordance (LBC).

"We want people who are lacking services, living couch to couch, and the chronic homeless," said Caban, who is the team leader for the event at the Long Branch site.

"Age is not a factor," Caban said, adding, "It does not matter where they are from."

The ProjectHomeless Connect event is a point-in-time survey of the homeless population in the state and will be taking place Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other sites in Monmouth County where the program is being offered include the Atonement Lutheran Church in Asbury Park and the Open Door/St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Freehold.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requests that a point-in-time count of the homeless be done every two years, according to Caban, who added that it is done every year in New Jersey.

The LBC is the organization implementing the survey this year at the Long Branch site, Caban said.

The survey will help to raise public awareness, as well as to measure the progress in eliminating homelessness, Caban said.

"Conducting a count draws attention to the issues of homelessness, especially in rural and suburban areas where homeless people are not typically visible," Caban said.

"[It is an] opportunity to educate the public and local government officials about homelessness," she said. "[The] point-intime counts can help measure progress in addressing homelessness over time."

Caban added that the survey also helps with planning and programming development.

"[It helps to] understand characteristics and needs," Caban said. "A point-in-time survey is a planning tool. [It] guides decisions about program development and resource allocation.

"[It] provides information that helps secure resources for homeless services," she said.

In addition to administering the survey, the four local sites participating in the project will also be offering food, warm clothing and social services and health screenings to the homeless, according to Caban.

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event in which the community comes together to serve those most needed, according to the Project Homeless Connect Web site.

Individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness are able to receive a variety of services, such as information on housing, benefits, legal services, substance abuse,mental health,medical services, food, clothing and employment services through participating in the project, according to the Web site.

"This survey will definitely benefit the community," Caban said. "With these findings, organizations will be able to focus on the identified needs.

"Theywill be able to allocate their efforts and funds to programs that will help with the prevention and intervention of homelessness," she said.

Caban added that the findings from the survey also give local and state government an "enhanced view" of the needs of the homeless and near homeless residents.

"It is very important that we get a good turnout for this event," Caban said. "The more surveys we complete, the better opportunity we will have to advocate for the services that homeless people in Long Branch are in dire need for."

Project Homeless Connect is a service model,which originated in San Francisco in 2004 and has since spread to over 130 cities across the country.

In the winter of 2006/2007, Project Homeless Connect events were held for the first time in all 21 counties in New Jersey.

One of the goals of Project Homeless Connect is to get an accurate picture of the number of peoplewho experience homelessness in a community, according to the Web site.

It is also a way to learn about those at risk of becoming homeless and also to learn the needs of those who are homeless, according to the site.

To learn more about Project Homeless Connect New Jersey 2008, visit www.monarchhousing.org/EHT/PHC/.

Formore information about the program being held in Long Branch, call Emma Caban at (732) 571-1670 or email at emma@lbc4help.org.