From Ozarks Healthcare:
WEST PLAINS, MO – Ozarks Healthcare is hosting Project Homeless Connect this year, bringing together area agencies and community partners to support individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. The event will be held Thursday, January 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Plains Civic Center.
Project Homeless Connect is a collaborative, one-day event designed to provide access to essential health and human services in one central location. Community volunteers will partner with city government, local nonprofits, churches, and private-sector organizations to ensure participants can connect with the resources they need in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The event is made possible through the generosity of community supporters, including the Elks Lodge of West Plains, which recently donated $1,500 to help support Project Homeless Connect. The donation will assist with providing services, supplies, and resources to individuals and families in need during the event.
A wide range of services will be available at no cost to attendees, including medical care, mental health and substance abuse services, recommended health screenings, housing assistance, dental care, benefits enrollment, vision care, photo identification assistance, food, clothing, haircuts, and more.
“Ozarks Healthcare is proud to host this important event and work alongside our community partners to help meet people where they are,” Summer Freeman, Ozarks Healthcare Director of Behavioral Health Services, said.
According to the most recent statewide point-in-time data from the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care, the overall number of people experiencing homelessness in Missouri was nearly 6,918 in 2023, showing the ongoing challenge across the state. During the 2024 Project Homeless Connect event in West Plains, 130 individuals experiencing homelessness were served with vital services and support.
“Project Homeless Connect helps remove barriers to care by bringing critical services together under one roof, offering hope and practical support to our neighbors in need,” Sharon Cobb, Housing Liaison at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health’s Crisis Stabilization Center, said.
Project Homeless Connect is open to families and individuals residing in Howell, Douglas, Ozark, Oregon, Texas, and Shannon and surrounding counties. Community members and organizations interested in volunteering or learning more about the event are encouraged to call 417-257-6762 ext. 5715 for additional information
