Residents counting on each other

WASILLA — In a little less than a month, the Valley will join with communities all over the country in raising awareness and funds for homeless residents.

On Jan. 26, Mat-Su’s first Project Homeless Connect will be happening at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center at the same time Anchorage and more than 100 other U.S. cities are holding their own one-day, one-stop services in housing assistance, food, medical check-ups, haircuts and — in Wasilla’s case — even showers for those in need.

The Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness is teaming up with local senior centers, Family Promise Mat-Su, Valley Residential Services, community leaders, the Veteran’s Administration and the Mat-Su Health Foundation to bring as many needy residents together in one place on one day to not only provide services for them, but to get a more accurate count for future needs and funds.

“We’re sure the number of homeless families, seniors and others needing services is much higher than most people realize,” said Lorie Rounds, executive director of Mid-Valley Senior Center. “I know I have two homeless seniors that come here to eat and I know there are more out there. We have to be able to identify them so that we can apply for funds to help them.”

After Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright gave the Mat-Su Coaltion on Housing and Homelessness permission to use the Menard sports center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for free, the Mat-Su Health Foundation pitched in $11,000 for the event and about $22,000 in in-kind services have been donated to make it happen, Family Promise Mat-Su Director Laurie Kari said Monday.

“What started as just a place for the various providers to meet has exploded into this larger event for the community,” Kari said.

Family Promise Mat-Su alone has managed to raise $70,000 more in community support this year over last year for its mission to team up with 14 local churches to provide a place for homeless families to stay a week at a time, Kari said.

“The main thing that’s needed now are more low-income housing units in the Valley and more monies for rental assistance to prevent more families from being evicted,” Kari said.

John Weaver, of Valley Residential Services, said Monday more than 25 groups will be on hand at the Project Homeless Connect event to assist those needing services.

“We’re expecting more than 100 people to attend the event,” Weaver said, adding that his organization has been working on providing more low-income housing in the area beyond the 75 units currently available for monthly rents ranging from $360 to $1,077, depending on income.

For those needing transportation to the event, MASCOT is working with local senior centers on that end.

“People will be able to sign up for every service imaginable,” Rounds said. “Whether they need clothes, food, help with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, heating assistance, whatever. The most important thing is to get there and be counted.”

For more information, contact Stephanie Campbell at the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness at 715-9695.

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.