United way and partners connect homeless to vital services            

Project Connect hosted in Glendale

View printable PDF of News Release here

PHOENIX (May 21, 2012) – On Thursday, May 24, Valley of the Sun United Way and partners will take vital health and human services directly to individuals experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness in the Glendale area at Project Connect. Held once a month in cities throughout the Valley, Project Connect is a one-day outreach event that brings together more than 30 human service providers in one central location.

Project Connect will be held at Vineyard Church in Glendale, 6250 W. Peoria Ave., and will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees will work one-on-one with volunteers who will help them access driver’s licenses, employment services, wellness checks, shelter, counseling, food, clothing and haircuts, among other vital human services. Individuals at risk of losing their housing are encouraged to attend and obtain information about affordable rental services.

Thousands of individuals experience homelessness in Maricopa County on any given day, many of whom report experiencing homelessness for the first time due to a job loss, home foreclosure or unexpected medical bills.

Project Connect brings hope to some of our most vulnerable community members and is made possible through the generous support of community donors such as APS. At Project Connect in Glendale, APS employees will serve as volunteers and connect people to vital services. APS employees contributed more than $3 million to United Way’s 2011 annual workforce fundraising campaign, and more than $1.6 million of those contributions were in unrestricted donations. Unrestricted giving to United Way enables the organization to bring unique solutions like Project Connect to the community.

Project Connect is part of Valley of the Sun United Way’s broader community work to end homelessness in Maricopa County. Through Project Connect, Valley of the Sun United Way provides struggling individuals and families with the information and resources they need to prevent homelessness and break down one of the most difficult challenges facing homeless individuals – access to services.

To learn more about the impact of Project Connect, or to volunteer with the program in the future, visit www.vsuw.org/projectconnect.

About Valley of the Sun United Way
Valley of the Sun United Way is working to advance the common good by ensuring children and youth succeed, ending hunger and homelessness and increasing financial stability for individuals and families in Maricopa County. Visit www.vsuw.org to learn more.

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