With the number of homeless people on the rise, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless is staging its third annual Project Homeless Connect on Friday, Dec. 5, at Golden Hall downtown.

The day-long, free event will provide a one-stop-shop where homeless people can obtain a variety of services, from haircuts to health care, as well as a hot meal and referrals to regional service agencies.

“When the next point-in-time count of the homeless is taken in January, we anticipate a dramatic increase over the previous count,” said Walt Sandford, executive director of the Regional Task Force. “Service providers are telling us that they are ‘swamped’ with requests for assistance, especially from families who have lost their homes due to foreclosure in the current economic downturn.”

The point-in-time homeless count last winter identified 7,582 homeless people in San Diego County, up from 6,968 in January 2006. The next point-in-time count, slated for Jan. 23, 2009, is expected to be significantly higher. The Task Force estimates that the number of homeless in the county on any given day is closer to 10,000.

The fact that many local charities were unable to meet the demand for Thanksgiving Day meals supports this anecdotal evidence that homelessness is on the rise, which makes Project Homeless Connect even more important, Sandford said.

Originating in San Francisco, Project Homeless Connect helps to bring much needed services together in one place, on one day, making it easy for homeless people to get the help and answers they need, he said.

“Think of it as a street fair for the homeless,” Sandford said. “Golden Hall will be filled with booths offering direct health and dental services, as well as food, vaccinations, jobs, legal advice and referrals to service agencies.”

Project Homeless Connect also brings together members from the community, service providers, businesses and government to address the larger issue of homelessness in the San Diego region. The goal of the event not only is to provide basic needs and services, but to help move people closer to being off the streets.

“The event provides support for the things that often keep people homeless – physical and mental health problems, substance abuse and personal identification,” Sandford said. “Referrals to service agencies start the process of recovery to get them off the street.”

Marti Emerald, District 7 Councilmember-elect, will be on hand to serve lunch to the people attending the event.

Throughout the day, direct services or referrals will be available for clothing, hygiene items, food service, haircuts, housing, medical, dental, mental health, substance abuse, pastoral care, legal and IT services.

Among those offering services will be the Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Healthcare for the Homeless Project, which will have a mobile medical unit on site where people can receive primary medical treatment, medical exams and flu immunizations.

Event organizers are seeking volunteers to escort and assist homeless people in navigating through the day. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1093.