Students and Faculty Play Critical Role at Project Homeless Connect Rochester
On any given night in Rochester and Monroe Country, hundreds of people are living either on the streets or in temporary shelter.Project Homeless Connect Rochester (PHCR): A Day of Services at Blue Cross Arena at The War Memorial Exchange and Broad Streets will be September 13, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. It’s an event to connect individuals experiencing or at high risk of homelessness with critical services in a “one-stop” venue. Nazareth College students are joining together with a wide range of community agencies and professionals to provide the homeless with access to health care, social services, legal advice, food, medical care and much more—all within a caring and safe environment. Other main event partners include County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Monroe County, the City of Rochester, plus a wide range of homeless service providers, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other key community organizations.
Nazareth College social work and public health students comprise the majority of PHCR volunteers. The scope of Nazareth College student and faculty volunteers has also expanded significantly to address the need for (ASL and Spanish) interpretation services, a streamlined resource (coats, toiletries) distribution system, and transportation.
PHCR entrance interviews conducted by Nazareth College students indicate the “one stop” venue serves approximately 700 individuals and families annually. Each year, about half of PHCR guests report that they did not sleep in their own home on the night prior to the event – some slept with friends and family members, some slept in shelters, and some slept on the street. Approximately half of those who slept in their own homes face the threat of eviction within three weeks.
Project Homeless Connect Rochester (PHCR) began in 2009 as a volunteer-driven annual event dedicated to connecting homeless individuals and families to housing and other critical resources. Modeled afterSan Francisco’s Project Homeless Connect, the explicit mission of PCHR is to “rally the city to support and create lasting solutions for homeless Rochesterians”.
For More Information
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | 585-389-2456 or jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
A Nazareth student volunteering at Project Homeless Connect.