A range of new service booths lined the floor of the UVI Sports and Fitness Center Friday, as organizers of the third annual Project Homeless Connect sought to reach out to residents hard hit by the economic slowdown. "We’re definitely seeing a different set of people out here today," said Cherise Creque-Quain, executive director of the local United Way. The event generally caters to the territory’s sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations, but with the recent layoffs in the private sector — particularly in the tourism and retail-oriented industries — it had to be expanded, she explained.
New this year, for example, was what organizers called "vignettes" or mini-workshops on everything from effective budgeting and saving to swine flu prevention. Attendees, who organizers referred to as "clients," were also able to get information on the range of services offered by the various non-profit organizations and government agencies that participated.
Almost as soon as it began, several clients flocked to the Labor Department’s booth, where employment specialist Shirley Veira talked about job training programs and opportunities.
"So far, everything’s been going really well," she said. "The people that have come to talk to us are really looking to work and they’ve said they’re going to follow up by coming to the office on Monday."
Follow up appointments are always a sign of success, according to Michael Akin, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, which operates the Bethlehem House.
"Last year we had several individuals come to the shelter after they came to this event and got more information," he said. "And that’s really the goal — if we have a couple of those every year, that’s a success."
The reality is that the number of chronic homeless in the territory is increasing, Akin added. And overall, the territory hasn’t been successful in moving the homeless off the streets and into more permanent housing, he said.
But the organization’s Housing First program — which is also being championed through Human Services — can change all that.
"How it works is that we quickly put people in permanent housing and then bring the services to them," Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch explained. "It’s a change from putting them in a shelter, then rehab, then transitional housing and waiting for them to become ready for a more permanent situation. Oftentimes, that model is difficult because a lot of people don’t seem to get through it."
By taking certain "survival factors" out of the situation — such as the provision of food and shelter — the client would be more willing to accept counseling and other services, he added.
While the economic recession has made funding the program difficult, Human Services will keep its eyes peeled for available opportunities, Finch said.
Along with gathering information at the event, clients were also able to sit down and get a haircut, take a shower, or peruse the clothing boutique, which was staffed by several of the volunteers who turned out in droves Friday.
Government employees were allowed four hours of paid administrative leave to come out and volunteer, according to staff members at the Governor’s Office.
"I am so grateful to everyone for supporting us like this," Creque-Quain said. "There’s so much emotion and compassion out there — I’m really floored that we have so many volunteers. It shows that people really care about what’s going on in the community."
Project Homeless Connect will move to the Agriculture fairgrounds on St. Croix next Friday. The event starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.