Project Homeless Connect links dozens with resources in Columbia as homeless population grows

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Thursday, Project Homeless Connect linked dozens of people with homeless resources in Columbia.

According to the Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness, as of July 8, there were 379 people experiencing homelessness in the county. Data from July 2023 shows 231 people were experiencing homeless a year prior.

According to the Project Homeless Connect's Facebook page, the event is held twice a year to connect Columbia's homeless with resources including housing assistance, medical examinations, mental health screenings, financial assistance and basic needs.

Volunteers prepared 150 backpacks filled with supplies to hand out to individuals at the event on Thursday.

Kari Utterback, of Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services and helps organize Project Homeless Connect, the department hosts this event once in the summer and once in the winter.

"In the winter we pair it with our Point In Time Count so that we can report to HUD exactly how many sheltered and unsheltered folks we have," Utterback said. "We bring in resources and it gets rid of the transportation barrier for folks...they can see multiple agencies in one day."

According to an event handout, more than 30 organizations were on hand for Project Homeless Connect. Some of these organizations include Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Compass, Feeding Missouri, Vision Zero and Love Columbia.

"Folks are able to get the services that we have and that they need all in one spot," Utterback said.

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