The third annual Project Homeless Connect (PHC) event drew more than 175 University affiliates to help Baltimore’s homeless population access legal, health and educational services at the Baltimore Convention Center on Oct. 2.
Around 2,000 homeless people received services, including dental care, legalization documents, employment, housing and nutritional education, according to Scott Gottbreht, PHC’s project manager.
Gottbreht also teaches “B’More: Homelessness,” an intersession course for freshmen at Hopkins.
“[PHC hosted] approximately half the homeless population; however, ‘homelessness’ is a frustrating definition,” Gottbreht said. “The most reportable definition describes people on the streets or staying in shelters, but it discounts many people staying in abandoned buildings or in houses of their friends.”
Gottbreht and his team, with support from United Way of Central Maryland and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Human Services, began planning this year’s event last October. The first PHC event was held in San Francisco in 2004. Designated as a national best practice model by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), PHC events have since been held over 300 cities nationwide.
“The most impactful thing about Project Homeless Connect is the ‘connect,’” Gottbreht said. “It’s when the guide meets the participant. Homeless people are used to being shunned, even feared. And so when the guide puts aside one day just for the participant, it’s eye opening. The guide is walking a mile in the participant’s shoes — literally.”
Gottbreht also said the direct interactions with homeless Baltimoreans provided an impactful volunteer experience.
“It’s very personal and hands-on,” Gottbreht said. “For guides to be part of that is very powerful — you’re giving a person a photo ID, a foot wash, a tooth extraction.”
Sophomore Lauren Altus attended the event as part of a midterm community outreach requirement for “Baltimore and The Wire,” a Public Health Studies course. She was paired with an individual who received health care and a social security card.
“I think it’s our duty as students at this school to go and help the citizens of Baltimore,” Altus said. “Johns Hopkins is full of young kids who are trying to make a difference in the world, who are so eager to get out there. I recommend [PHC] as a way for anyone to get involved with the community and do some service.”
There were a couple of major changes from last year’s PHC event. Instead of having two mobile dental units, this year’s event provided a more comprehensive range of dental services, including free tooth extractions. About 105 patients were serviced.
Additionally, homeless attendees were able to apply for subsidized housing under Section 8 of the Housing Act for the first time in 11 years. Prior to this year’s PHC, applications had been closed due to high demand.
This year’s event also featured a live job search lab, where volunteers helped participants create a resumé and search for jobs.
Gottbreht said that about 500 children received donated supplies.
“Children are a priority — families are the fastest growing demographic with far-reaching implications,” Gottbreht said.
Other non-profit organizations, including Advocates for Children and Youth (ACY), Hope Forward and Maryland Hunger Solutions, also took part in providing services and information to attendees.
Michele Burton, a community health engagement policy associate for ACY, said that former foster care children or siblings of foster care children are eligible for free college or vocational training and possibly for free health care. She said that PHC provides a great platform to share this information with people who need it most.
“What’s most meaningful is making connections to other agencies you don’t normally see and meeting people,” Burton said. “I share information about this, but it’s hard to get that information all over the state.”
Shalita O’Neale, founder and executive director of Hope Forward, which assists youths aged 17-25 who used to be in the foster care system, attended the event to share information about her organization’s work as well.
“It means a lot to us because [we’re] alumni of foster care, so we know what it’s like [to live in foster care] and we want to give back,” O’Neale said.
