Bismarck, N.D. – Bismarck-Mandan Mayors, John Warford and Tim Helbling, announce their support for the upcoming community event of Project Homeless Connect and the Central Dakota Veterans Stand Down to be held Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at the AMVETS Club from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“The Bismarck-Mandan homeless initiative has gone from lack of awareness to heightened awareness, and from planning to implementation. It has been very gratifying to see the communities come together to solve a problem and positively impact the lives of the homeless,” said Mayor John Warford, City of Bismarck.

“This is the start of a new way to address homelessness….,” said City of Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling. “Project Homeless Connect and the Central Dakota Veterans Stand Down is a one-day, one-stop shop to deliver real services to people experiencing real homelessness in our community. This is also about a commitment to move from simply taking care of homelessness towards really ending homelessness.”

Project Homeless Connect and the Central Dakota Veterans Stand Down are two separate community-led events collaborating for one day in one location with the purpose of partnering multiple service providers, Veterans Administration, community volunteers and sponsors to assist in breaking down many of the barriers individuals, families and veterans may experience while homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or when in basic need.

The Project Homeless Connect and Central Dakota Veterans Stand Down event expects approximately 500 guests to be connected to vital services including medical and mental health care, housing, employment and specialist Veterans services on the day. Free haircuts with licensed operators and a free meal will also be provided. Additionally, free bus travel to and from the event will be available throughout the Bismarck-Mandan community on the day.

“The 2008 Point in Time Survey states that on any given night across Bismarck-Mandan over 275 people are experiencing homelessness; 41 percent of those people are children,” said Tina Grumbo, Executive Director for the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc. “Additionally, across the State of North Dakota, one-third of the people experiencing homelessness are Veterans. Our goal is to reduce and eventually eliminate these numbers. One of the ways we intend on reaching this goal is through the Project Homeless Connect and the Central Dakota Veterans Stand Down event.”

Contact:
Tina Grumbo
Executive Director
Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc.
Phone: 701-222-2108