Project Homeless Connect

For a number of years, the Coalition of Service Providers for the Homeless (formerly known as the "Clark County Continuum of Care") considered the idea of developing and implementing a Project Homeless Connect. In 2007, the City of Vancouver graciously agreed to provide funding to the Council for the Homeless to develop a practicability study. The City and the County agreed with the findings of the study that such an event would have a tangible benefit to the city and the residents of Clark County, and agreed with the Council’s recommendation to proceed with the program’s development.

As a result, Clark County hosted its first Project Homeless Connect (PHC) on April 26, 2008. Modeled on similar events across the country, the one-stop, same-day resource fair for people without homes was held in the Commons area of Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver.

The first PHC-Clark County was a project of Leadership Clark County, a 10-month program that brings together a wide variety of business professionals and other community members. Program participants comprised the “Task Force” that organized and executed the event, while learning about the available resources as well as the gaps in services. They assumed an active role in creating a community where everyone has a home.

Based upon the success of the inaugural event, "PHC-Clark County" has become an annual event and integral part of the county’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

Future PHC's will offer a variety of services to those who participate, such as medical care, dental exams, and legal advice. Information about employment, housing and tax refunds and numerous other services will also be available. Haircuts, bicycle repair, wheelchair repair and animal care services are expected to be offered as well.

The goal of the PCH is to connect as many people without homes, or who are at risk of homelessness, with people and resources that will help them find homes and strengthen their individual capacity for independence.

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) reports more than 150 Project Homeless Connects have been hosted in 115 cities nationwide. Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director of USICH says, “Instead of serving homeless people endlessly, our mission is to end their homelessness."

From its origins in San Francisco, Project Homeless Connect has been hailed as an innovation that mobilizes civic will to end homelessness. Communities replicate the USICH model to move people more quickly toward housing and stability and to help further the goals of each community’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

PHC events vary in size, content and frequency in each community, but share a common intent - to remedy the homelessness of their neighbors. Events catalyze community involvement, generating new partnership, commitment, and investment to end homelessness. PHC gives people and organizations who have never been involved in homelessness before a way to make a difference.

Past Clark County Project Homeless Connect Events

Clark County PHC 2009 was held on Friday, January 30, 2009, at the Red Lion at the Quay in Vancouver. Thank you to all who participated as a service providers, attendees, donors, volunteers, vendors and staff. Detailed information on the scope, success and impact of this event can be found here: View the report on the results of Project Homeless Connect 2009.

Clark County PHC 2008 was an outstanding success, due in large part to the dedicated volunteers and service agencies' representatives who came out early on a Saturday morning in April to help clients with their housing, medical, dental, benefits and other needs.

View the report on the results of Project Homeless Connect 2008.

For a complete list of volunteers and agencies represented at the 2008 PHC event, view the "Thank You" ad that appeared in the Columbian. For more information on Project Homeless Connect 2008, read the press release. Once again, a big shout-out to each volunteer, every service provider and materiel donor, and the wonderful people of Leadership Clark County. Without their commitment, compassion and dedication, this event would not have been possible.