On Friday, October 16 Middlesex United Way, Middlesex Community College, the Middlesex County Continuum of Care, and numerous other organizations sponsored Project Homeless Connect (PHC), a one-day event providing immediate access to information and services for people who are homeless or at-risk for becoming homeless in a convenient one-stop format.

Watch the story that appeared on WFSB Channel 3 about Project Homeless Connect >>

Approximately 280 individuals attended the event and more than 130 volunteers were on-hand to assist. Free transportation was made available to and from points all across the fifteen towns of Middlesex County so that anyone could reach the site and benefit from the information and services.

Free medical services and screenings were available that day and included dental check-ups and cleanings, vision screenings, podiatry exams, and chiropractic services. Haircuts and chair massages were also available. Many health and human service agencies were on-hand to provide information and referrals to housing, energy assistance, employment, education, social services, legal services, and clothing vouchers.

An on-site cafe provided free breakfast and lunch to all those in attendance. The first 200 individuals who came to PHC received a backpack with toiletries and other gift items inside.

PHC is a national initiative that began in San Francisco in 2004 and has been implemented in more than 200 cities and communities throughout the world. The goals of PHC are to improve access to services and housing for people who are homeless and to engage and increase the community's involvement in collaboratively finding solutions to homelessness.

The day also served at Middlesex United Way's Day of Caring, an annual event that matches up groups of employees from local companies to volunteer at a projects for a local nonprofit organization or large-scale community project such as PHC. More than 130 volunteers from 20 local companies and businesses assisted with PHC. Volunteers prepared and helped to serve the meals in the cafe, conducted in-take and exit interviews with those attending the event, made appointments for the health screenings for individuals, and served as escorts to ensure people received the necessary appointments, services, and information. View our slide show on flickr >>

In addition to providing volunteers, numerous local businesses donated in-kind services or products to make PHC such a success, while even more companies and organizations ran drives to collect toiletries, bottled water, and other items that were distributed that day.

Please click here to view the extensive list of those who helped make PHC possible >>