Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - This morning, dozens of local organizations are joining forces to stop homelessness, a growing problem in our community.

The Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness is hosting its 6th "Tucson Homeless Connect" at Dunbar Auditorium, 325 W. 2nd Street.

Health care, hair cuts, a hot meal, fresh clothes and any kind of help the homeless community needs will be available and hundreds are expected to show.

"Enabling is where you give a guy a fish and you tell him to eat it. Empowerment is where you teach him how to fish," said Don Blascak, Tucson Homeless Connect Chairperson.

It is a common concept and Blascak says it fits "Tucson Homeless Connect" perfectly.

There will be plenty of giving.

"Some of this stuff here is from hotels and motels, people go on trips come in and they give us stuff," Blascak said, showing the take-home bag each person will leave with after the event.

But beyond the take-home bag, there is a long list of services available to empower the homeless community. Guests will receive respiratory and foot care, blood pressure screening and a chance to get an Arizona Identification Card.

"You can't even get in a shelter bed if you don't have a photo ID," Blascak said.

The event takes hard work and care from organizations around Pima County. Each one is fighting a problem that now impacts a different segment of Tucsonans.

"The face of homelessness in our community has changed immensely. The population of families and young adults has grown tremendously over the past 10 years," said Steve Nelson, Co-Chair of the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.

"We don't make any differentiation. We are seeing more families on the streets these days. These are the ones we refer to as the 'new homeless.' They have lost a job, they have lost a house," Blascak said.

Today, all are welcome.

"I would invite anyone who is worried about just hanging on that this would be an opportunity to find out what additional options there are in the community," Nelson said.

The event kicks off at 8:30 this morning at Dunbar Auditorium. Lunch will be served at 12:30.