Volunteers provide one-stop assistance to the homeless, needy

Tiffany Gibson

Johnathan Short from Memphis, Tenn. gets his hair cut by Maui Salon hairdresser Vickie McColl during the 17th annual Project Homeless Connect event Tuesday at the Cashman Convention Center.

By Tiffany Gibson (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Project Homeless Connect

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Impoverished Pets

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Homeless and impoverished Las Vegas residents brought their pets to the Cashman Convention Center Tuesday for free veterinary care. The treatment was part of Project Homeless Connect, where people can go to recieve free food, clothing and health care.

More than 800 volunteers helped provide information and necessities to people in need during the 17th annual Project Homeless Connect event at the Cashman Convention Center on Tuesday.

Michele Fuller-Hallauer, continuum of care coordinator for the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, said the purpose of the event is to provide as many services as possible under one roof.

“We have haircuts, dental and medical care, information areas, behavioral health, and this is our first year to have an unaccompanied minors section,” Fuller-Hallauer said. “It’s been a phenomenal success.”

Kelly Robson, director of HELP of Southern Nevada Youth Center, said the center took in four young adults because of the event.

“A lot came to the table and were getting information, but some are still couch-surfing and not ready to come in,” Robson said. “But it’s very satisfying and rewarding because for every kid that takes information, there’s a little hope.”

The event also provided veterinary care for animals.

Kelly Salyer of Clark County Parks and Recreation said a number of people brought their animals to the event to be cared for by student volunteers from Pima Medical Institute in Las Vegas. She said the animals had their nails clipped and received shots.

Fuller-Hallauer said the attendance for the event this year has been lower than previous years. She said she’s happy about that because lower attendance means the event is helping people get back on their feet.

The United Way joined with the Nevada Homeless Alliance to help get more people involved.

United Way Volunteer Director Robin Kelley said the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada wanted to help by recruiting volunteers.

Volunteer Erik Foisy from the Army National Guard signed up through the United Way Volunteer Center and worked at the Miles for Smiles dental care booth. He said the program was helping people with their pain, not doing extractions or surgeries.

“People are super grateful,” Foisy said. “One lady had been waiting since midnight just to come see us.”

People also lined up for haircuts. Johnathan Short of Memphis, Tenn., said he had just gotten back from a tour in Iraq and is appreciative of all the services the event provided him.

“This event helps keep me focused and to do the right thing,” Short said. “It’s a plus to be able to relate to people and tell them what’s going on in your life.”

Vickie McColl, a volunteer hairdresser from Maui Salon, said she wanted to help cut people’s hair because she is fortunate to have a job. “Plus, getting a hair cut makes people feel better,” she said.

Robert Greiner of Las Vegas said he came for eye care.

“I came to this event because I’m not working and am going to be homeless pretty soon,” he said.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By stratboy

11/12/09 at 4:36 a.m.

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Thankyou volunteers for helping. People like you can
make any city a great place to live. Many thankx!!!
By rejco100

11/12/09 at 7:01 a.m.

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There is ABSOLUTELY NO HOUSING ever at these Homeless connect (Sorry, but prison-like 12-Step Religious Cult Shelters ARE NOT HOUSING)
By rejco100

11/12/09 at 7:06 a.m.

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"behavioral health", Every homeless person has already been diagnoses seriously mentally ill and addicted/alcoholic before they have even stepped through the doors. There is no funding for housing, but there are BILLIONS in taxpayer funding for the 12-Step Religious Cult "TREATMENT" programs where they conjure up their "Higher Power", do the 12-step jiggle, and the "Higher Power" sprinkles the One-Day-at-a-Time" magic dust to make everything better. NOW THAT'S INSANE!
By mred

11/12/09 at 11:58 a.m.

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kxnt Talk radio station manager Jack Landreth ridiculed a similar program, saying it was like "feeding the pigeons." in an on the air broadcast a week ago.
By AncoraImparo

11/12/09 at 1:55 p.m.

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> rejco100 < The amazing ability you seem to have, that enables you to put so much, *oh...so wrong*, misinformation and erroneous amounts (...every..no..BILLIONS...) into one sentence, absolutlely stuns me. The only thing that stops me from subscribing to your newsletter: I mistrust your sources. All is not lost, though. I did giggle. Are you like...17?...
Now about the article: You found nothing joyous or wonderful about the fact that there would people willing to give of themselves to help others?? It's an experience that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy, at least once. The part that many people just don't 'get'...is the expecting nothing$$$ in return. That there is a hard concept, yanno? Kudos to the volunteers and to the 'reporter'
By STARBEAMS

11/12/09 at 2:39 p.m.

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The persons who give of themselves in caregiving of other people who have been in traumatic situations and experienced in their life chaos and turmoil are the real winners in the volunteer role of caregiving to others. The beauty operator does not have to stand for three or four extra hours and pump up any one's hair who cannot pay. The Doctor who is a volunteer for the Smile Train does not have to stand over a OR table and rebuild that that conception in countries that do not abstain from their roles of making babies has forgotten to do. The nurses who care for these babies once they have been through the surgical process do not have to care for these babies because there are many unfilled nursing positions in the US; the nurses are caregivers because to live w/o a lip and palate that has not completely closed is a life that no one needs to live when the error can be corrected by those who care enough to give the best.

So sit on your gripes and whining and suck it in.
By AngryReader

11/12/09 at 2:56 p.m.

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This is a great service these people are providing.

However, I think I am going to have to agree with rejco. I recently was involved with an incident involving Metro and a homeless person trespassing on a neighbors property.

When I asked the officer about housing or other shelter or help for this obviously mentally ill woman in her early 40's, he immediately said "All filled up". He knew of no other options.

He claimed all he could do was 'shoo' her along.

So anyone claiming that there are non-religious affiliated shelter for the homeless, please enlighten us as to where that is located.

Because it currently only exists in fantasy land.

I feel your anger Rej.