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University of Denver to host fourth
Project Homeless Connect
Services fair for 1,000 homeless people ushers in ongoing DU-City partnership
DENVER—February 7, 2007—The University of Denver is moving forward with its commitment to form ongoing and strategic partnerships with the City & County of Denver by hosting the fourth Project Homeless Connect (PHC) on April 20. More than 230 cities are working on plans similar to Denver’s Road Home, a partnership between the city and the Mile High United Way, to end homelessness in 10 years. However, this will be the first time in Denver that the PHC program has been hosted in a non-governmental location.
The idea to form additional partnerships with the city was the result of this year’s Provost’s conference at DU, an annual event hosted in the fall by DU Provost Gregg Kvistad. Since the October conference, University officials have been exploring ways to more formally join research efforts and service efforts with the city’s agenda.
“From the perspective of Denver’s Road Home, a partnership with DU opens many doors for ways in which the City & County of Denver and a premier university can work together in responding to complex social issues in our community such as homelessness,” says Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. “The opportunities to engage volunteers, build community, grow our research and evaluation efforts and ultimately respond to the homeless in Denver underscores the value of this partnership that we are developing with DU.”
PHC is intended as a services fair, where people who are homeless can find resources and have immediate and long-term needs met — medical care and housing services will be provided, education information and job interviews will be available, haircuts will be made available and laundry vouchers and toiletries will be distributed. The event allows homeless people to access several service providers in one day as opposed to making calls and visits on their own — something that could normally take weeks or months.
“Project Homeless Connect is a good first-step toward creating a lasting partnership that will provide better learning opportunities, practical research and solution-
building the community,” said Kvistad. “This event also will provide an opportunity for our students to get involved in creating real solutions to the homeless problem in Denver.”
Since the first PHC was held in San Francisco in 2004, now 120 cities use similar events to combat homelessness, including Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis and San Diego. Denver’s Road Home began sponsoring the events in December 2005. Based on turnout at previous events, 1,000 homeless people are expected to attend in April, meaning at least the same number of DU students, faculty and staff will volunteer to serve as escorts and work one-on-one with the homeless.
As the University continues working with the city after PHC, representatives from DU and the city will identify research, service learning and internship opportunities for faculty and students to continue working on city projects. Already, Christian Molidor, interim dean of the Graduate School of Social Work, has been appointed to the mayor’s Drug Strategy Task Force.
Press Contacts
Annalise Kinkel
University of Denver
(303) 871-4117
Dana Smith
Mile High United Way
(303) 561-2263
Upcoming Events
The Denver Project
A Curious Theater Production
FREE tickets for the DU community!
Classes are welcome. First come, first served.
Thursday, May 15, 8pm Reception at 7:15 There will be a talk back with actors and homelessness advocates after the performance.
Contact Karen.Bensen@du.edu to reserve your ticket!
Video Features
Watch a video about the event.
Watch a student-produced documentary of the event.