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 2, 2013, the Task Force held it's fourth 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, identification cards, legal and medical services, and veterans' services, as well as healthy food for breakfast and lunch. Volunteers were on hand from a number of organizations to assist, and transportation was provided from four sites throughout the four-hour period. Speakers before the event began included Mayor William Flanagan, Senator Michael Rodrigues and Steve Ozug, Vice President of Students and Enrollment Management at Bristol Community College as well as keynote speaker and consumer Jamila Wade of SER-Jobs. Click here for a 23-minute video. Click here for photos of last year's event. For more information, contact Mary Camara at 508-679-0131.

(Top row, left) Keynote speaker Jamila Wade of SER-Jobs is greeted by First Step Inn director Rosa Medeiros, SOCO coordiantor Janet Richardi, and Community Development homeless coordinator Mary Camara. (Top row, center) Janet, Rosa and Mary pose for a photo under the Homeless Connect welcome banner. (Top row, right) Jamila is introduced to Fall River Health and Human Services Director Dr. Henry Vaillancourt and Senator Michael Rodrigues. (Row two, left and right) Pastor Brian Weeks of Solomon's Porch offers a relection and prayer after Mayor Flanagan, Senator Rodrigues and Steve Ozug of Bristol Community College speak. (Row two, center) Stone Residence director Kathleen Wildanger and First Step Inn staff Debbie Correira pass out tote bags from BMC HealthNet Plan. (Row three, left) Steve Yung of the Strings of Hope project that offers free guitar lessons to families in transition poses for a photo. (Row three, center and right) As guests help themselves to a free breakfast, Janelle Miller and Aden Meiselbach of Eliot Homeless Services volunteer their assistance. (Row four) Volunteers from Project Aware, the Southeast Center for Independent Living and Solomon's Porch describe their services. (Bottom row) Bruce Pearson and Mike Dion of Community Development Agency register volunteers, Cheryl of the DOT Registry provides free identification cards, and Seven Hills Behavioral Health offers information about their services in their van outside.

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