HISTORY OF PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT:

The first Project Homeless Connect event was created and held San Francisco, California in October 2004(http://www.projecthomelessconnect.com/). Since then, the federal government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness has declared Project Homeless Connect a national best practice model. PHC is replicated in over 200 cities across the United States, as well as in Canada and Australia.

In Orange County, NC our first event was held in September 2007; spearheaded by the Partnership to End Homelessness. Project Connect is a key strategy of Orange County's Ten Year Plan To End Homelessness.

PROJECT CONNECT TODAY:

In 2011, the event coordinators changed the name to Project Connect in an effort to reach out to more community members in need of services. Project Connect a powerful impact on people’s lives by providing a wide range of assistance in one location and by the outpouring of respect and hospitality. It enables service agencies to efficiently reach many people in a single day and to coordinate their services together. At the same time, it educates the community about the issues surrounding homelessness while allowing individual community members to contribute their efforts, talents, and compassion. Similar events are also held in Durham County and Wake County.

In Orange County, partners include social service providers, local governments, businesses, UNC-CH students and departments, faith-based groups, civic organizations, Triangle United Way, and Orange County citizens.

Special thanks to Newfangled and Chris Butler for the invaluable donation of time and resources to help us launch this website!