Project Homeless Connect - November 3rd

This was a great event and a wonderful experience! I really enjoyed the three guests I assisted and seeing so many businesses and volunteers together working towards one goal was amazing. The most touching moment was watching people get haircuts and seeing their smiles and their heads held up a little higher as they were getting leaving this station.

Overall, this was wonderfully organized and quite impressive. I could go on and on about the positive aspects of the day from how well organized it was to the breadth of services. But here is some of my critical feedback. My 2nd client received a positive Hep C diagnosis. It would have been great if there was a person in a green shirt right by the HIV/Hep C testing to counsel people after they were informed. I couldn't get him to get HIV testing afterward. It would be great to just offer both at once with one blood draw.
I know that getting identification is tricky, but wonder if a whole room could be devoted to the various id line. For example, all people with no id whatsoever just go to conference room 702 where there are trained people to actually start the process of helping them instead of just referring them forward once again. Den Um, CO Coalition, etc can all send staff to do it. Or volunteers like myself go to another intense training to help with id's. I would welcome the opportunity to actually get the ball rolling with these folks and certainly there were the volunteers present to make it happen, just not the right space/resources. I had 2 clients who just got a form about going to the open hours at another nonprofit after waiting in line 30 minutes. Obviously walking out with an out-of-state birth certificate is not going to happen, but if they got the card of a specific person who was going to walk them through the process that would even go a long way. The impersonal nature of another flyer with more information about the next step makes the likelihood of them following through rather low. But if something was started, then there would be more motivation for them to follow-through.

Once again a wonderful experience. On the way out after my shift I got caught on Welton for at least another 20 minutes trying to help patrons find there way to the entrance. Many were confused on where to go, and next year more volunteers could be used out on the street.

Reflection: It was a good day! I felt like we had a steady flow of people at the event. Many needs being satisfied. I was kept busy answering questions and directing people to the correct service areas. Feedback: The Info Desks needed clear signs declaring them to be Info Desks. When I arrived I was not sure where to go and wasn't sure I was at the right location because there was no sign. I was at the one by the clothing and most people (both volunteers and visitors) assumed that we were the clothing check in. Many people requested backpacks, blankets/sleeping bags, tents, and men's boots. Other than the tents I felt like these were items that should have been present since they are basic necessities for surviving outside. A service requested quite often was for a bus pass.