Memphis HUD Staff Connects to Help the Homeless

Project Homeless Connect 5 at Cook Convention Center, Memphis

Memphis Field Policy Management and PM and Public Housing staff joined the September 18, 2014 Project Homeless Connect 5 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis. The massive event, sponsored in part by FedEx, brought hundreds of homeless together with hundreds of community volunteers. Virtually every service organization in the City took part.

The event brought together key providers and provided critical services which included 142 identification issued; 369 homeless were screened for housing services and 105 approved; 115 were seen by medical professionals and 49 were offered follow-up healthcare services; 36 saw a physician and 15 served by a dentist; 78 clients were provided legal services; 72 were processed by DHS (Food Stamps and other benefits); 165 eye exams were given and 147 pairs of glasses provided; and 105 signed up for Affordable Care Act health insurance. This is all part of the Administration's ongoing efforts to end homelessness - Opening Doors.

Presented to the Office of the President and Congress on June 22, 2010 (http://usich.gov/opening_doors/), Opening Doors is the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness. Opening Doors serves as a roadmap for joint action by the 19 USICH member agencies along with local and state partners in the public and private sectors. In September 2012, USICH released an Amendment to Opening Doors, which was developed to specifically address what strategies and supports should be implemented to improve the educational outcomes for children and youth, and the steps that need to be taken to assist unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness.

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