Being There for our Neighbors Facing Homelessness
On Tuesday, September 26, over 100 organizations gathered at Pinnacle Bank Arena in downtown Lincoln for the 13th Project Connect Lincoln, organized by the Lincoln Homeless Coalition. The event is a one-day, one-stop shop connecting community members facing homelessness or near homelessness to essential services such as housing, medical care, hair cuts, pet care, mental health services bicycle repair and more.
Over the course of a year, it is estimated that approximately 2,500 individuals will experience homelessness in Lincoln.
One of the main barriers to success for many individuals facing homelessness is transportation. Because Project Connect Lincoln brings multiple services together in one location, guests don’t have to make multiple appointments and trips across town to access the services they need.
At Project Connect Lincoln, each guest is paired with a volunteer Navigator who asks them about their needs and guides them to the appropriate services.
United Way proudly partnered with Fiserv to sponsor the event.
Thanks to the generosity of Lincoln Electric System, Black Hills Energy, Lincoln Central Labor Union, BNSF Railway, IBEW Local #244 and many individuals who donated time or money, United Way staff took 500 hygiene kits to distribute to guests of the event.
Among the items in each hygiene kit were two pairs of socks - the most requests item from last year!