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 8, 2014, the Task Force held it's fifth 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 Dr. Jack Sbrega of BCC, Mayor William Flanagan, SOCO Co-Chair Peter Muise, BayCoast Bank President Nicholas Christ and consumer Jamila Wade of SER-Jobs. Click here for a 30-minute video of the event. Click here for photos of last year's event. For more information, contact Mary Camara at 508-679-0131.

(Top row, left) Channa Guinard of First Baptist Church signs in at the registration table before setting up her display. (Top row, center) Jane Nahra and Brenda LePage begin the registration process. (Top row, right) SOCO coordinator Janet Richardi introduces her Regional Network co-chair, Peter Muise to one of the providers. (Row two) Community Development Homeless Coordinator Mary Camara introduces Jamila Wade and Homeless PreventionTask Force co-chair Nick Christ during the preliminary welcome. (Row three, left and center) Rev. Jeremy Colvin of the Church of the Holy Spirit greets one of the guests before they help themselves to breakfast. (Row three, right) Brittany Lynch of Saint Anne's Hospital talks with First Step Inn Director Rosa Medeiros. (Row four, left and center) Fall River Public Health Nurse Margaret Canulla talks about their services while Kristine da Fonseca of South Coast Fair Housing explains what they have to offer. (Row four, right) Marisol Soto and Ady Pratt of the Women's Center talk with Paul Desrosiers. (Bottom row, left) Shelly Castro and Judy Charest, left, from Citizens for Citizens are on hand to answer questions. (Bottom row, center) Janet Richardi talks with Martha Reed of Catholic Social Services about SNAP Benefit applications. (Bottom row, right) Anna Marques and Lisa Llanos look over some of the give-aways.

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