Lewis County Public Health and Social Services (LCPHSS) will hold two Homeless Connect events in January focused on connecting individuals and families experiencing homelessness with essential services, a recent news release from the LCPHSS stated.
Homeless Connect is a multiagency, community-based event designed to bring critical resources together in one place, including health and wellness services, employment assistance, veterans’ support and housing resources.
The first Homeless Connect event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in the Blue Pavilion, 1909 S. Gold St., Centralia. The second event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the Randle Fire Station, 9978 U.S. Highway 12.
Participating partners include Coastal Community Action Program, Destination Hope and Recovery, Developmental Disabilities Community Services, Hope Alliance, Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging, The Salvation Army and additional community organizations.
Homeless Connect is held in conjunction with the Lewis County point-in-time count, a nationwide annual effort to survey individuals experiencing homelessness. This year’s count will run from Jan. 29 through Feb.5 to reach rural and hard-to-access areas across Lewis County, according to the release.
“The point-in-time count helps Lewis County understand the scope of homelessness in our community. By collecting consistent data, we can identify gaps, improve services and make informed decisions about how we respond,” said Caroline Garibay, social services supervisor for Lewis County Public Health and Social Services.
For more information, contact Garibay at 360-740-1167 or caroline.garibay@lewiscountywa.gov.
Individuals in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to contact Coordinated Entry through The Salvation Army at 360-736-4339.
