Like other cities around the country that are experiencing chronic homelessness, Fall River has been participating in a national movement to end homelessness over a ten year period. Over the first five years of the project, plans have been put in place to address prevention, outreach, emergency shelter strategies, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing strategies. On August 10, 2012, the Task Force held it's third Homeless Connect event at Bristol Community College which invited dozens of homeless and at-risk persons to obtain many of the resources they need but have difficulty obtaining due to their lack of housing. Dozens of agencies and service representatives were on hand for the four-hour event, including laundry services, identification cards, legal and medical services, and veterans' services, as well as healthy food for lunch. Volunteers were on hand from Walmart to assist, and transportation was provided from four sites throughout the four-hour period. Click here for a10-minute video. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for photos of last year's event. For more information, contact Mary Camara at 508-679-0131.
 

(Top row, left) Volunteers are on-hand to offer one of the guests a bag from BMC HealthNet Plan to carry the items that he picks up during the event. (Top row, center) Brian Pearson, Paul Thibault and Mike Dion from the Community Development Agency register the guests. (Top row, right) Mayor William Flanagan greets Fall River Homeless Service Providers' Coalition chairperson Bonnie Paiva as Fall River City Councilor Eric Poulin looks on. (Row two, left) Walmart volunteers Cindy Delzell and Susan Alves hand out back packs to the guests. (Row two, right) Helen Raposo of Citizens for Citizens Head Start and Sandy Amaral of Catholic Social Services meet with guests to describe their services. (Row three, center and right) Brenda Lepage of Towne House talks with Vicnent Craig of Red's Suds & Bubbles Laundromat who was handing out cards good for a free wash and dry. (Bottom row, left) Rev. Jeremi Colvin of the Church of the Holy Spirit talks with Deborah Shield of Community Care Services about a client in need of services. (Bottom row, center) Ms. Paiva talks with SOCO coordiantor Janet Richardi as Homes for Families executive director Libby Hayes listens. (Bottom row) First Step Inn director Rosa Medeiros and Community Development homeless coordinator Mary Camara oversee the operation of the event.

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