In the News: Newswire

PHC Says Message of Event is Real People, Real Help, Right Now

Newswise — San Francisco, CA, December 14, 2011 – For people who are homeless the winter can be long, cold and wet in San Francisco. That’s why all those attending the December 14th Project Homeless Connect (PHC) event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium will be getting something to help keep them warm this winter, a thick hooded sweatshirt.

“The services we offer at each event can be life-changing,” says Kara Zordel, Director of Project Homeless Connect, “but sometimes it’s the simplest things that are the most powerful in letting people know they are cared for. That’s why our goal at the December event is to give every one of our clients a warm hooded sweat shirt. We hope that every time they wear it they’ll think of the help they got at PHC.”

A growing number of people are in need of that help. According to new data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 85,000 low-income adults in San Francisco are estimated to be food insecure, meaning they are struggling to be able to afford healthy, nutritious food. Many other individuals and families have to make tough choices between paying their rent and utilities such as electricity and gas, and buying food.

“Living on the brink of homelessness or hunger is exhausting, both physically and emotionally,” says Zordel. “At Project Homeless Connect we can help individuals and families get the assistance they need, sign them up for programs that will help them pay their bills, clothe and feed their children and avoid ending up on the streets.”

Volunteers help provide desperately needed services to all those who come to the event. Those services range from helping people get temporary housing, to signing up for safety net programs such as SSI or General Assistance, accessing health care with medical, dental and vision check-ups, even something as simple as getting a haircut or their wheelchair repaired.
Many of the volunteers in December will be from Kaiser Permanente, which is sponsoring the event for the fourth time.

“The work of Project Homeless Connect is vital to ensuring that all San Franciscans, regardless of their housing situation, have access to services,” says Dr. Leah Klinger, Assistant Physician in Chief at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. “At Kaiser Permanente we not only recognize how important it is to give back to the community, but it is core to our mission to give back to the communities we serve and reach out to people who are in need. We are proud to continue our partnership with Project Homeless Connect.”