Asheville’s Project Homeless Connect and VA Stand Down a Success!
Thursday, September 20th, 2007by Denise Neunaber, NCCEH Executive Director
Asheville held it’s second Project Homeless Connect last Friday, September 14th.
Over 250 participants received a meal, linked with housing and other services, received medical attention, haircuts, massages and much, much more!
I was honored to be a part of the event. I worked the front intake table to greet participants help get data about who was served and their individual needs into CHIN (Carolina Homeless Information Network– the statewide Homeless Information Network). I’m looking forward to seeing what Asheville is able to learn about their homeless population. To view more about the event and to read specific details of what was accomplished that day, visit the project’s blog.
Before I came to work for NCCEH full time, I worked in Asheville at A-HOPE, the day center for the homeless. As I greeted people at the front door, I was glad to see familiar faces and catch up with old friends. While it was comforting to see those faces, I was more overcome with the realization that if I recognized these folks it meant that they had been homeless for a LONG time. There must have been at least 20-25 faces that I instantly recognized. I moved to Raleigh in April of 2004. That means that everyone I recognized from my Asheville days has been there for at least three and a half years. For some, they may have been out and back in. Of those, I know some had bounced in and out several times. (more…)