RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Members of Richmond’s homeless community have more resources they need to begin transitioning off the streets. The 10th Annual Project Homeless Connect took place today at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
“Project Homeless Connect matches clients with volunteers in a one-of-a-kind partnership to assist homeless adults connect to as many on-site services as possible in one day,” explains Mary Kidd, a spokesperson for Project Homeless Connect.
About fifty groups offered services, including the VCU School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene, the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) and the Virginia Dental Association Foundation (VDAF).
Some area dentists closed down their practices Tuesday to volunteer with VDA’s Mission of Mercy, which has been providing dental care in free clinics like this one since 2000.
“This is a huge part of what we can do to help this population and others throughout the state,” says Tara Quinn with VDAF.
On any given day, there are about 760 homeless men, women and children in Richmond.
“Between 70 and 100 are on the streets,” says Kelly King Horne with Homeward. “Those are the folks we are really targeting today to help them find something more stable, especially as the weather gets colder.”
Project Homeless Connect also offered identification services, employment resources, shelter and housing assessments, haircuts and more.
Last year’s event served nearly 700 individuals.
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