Denver is opening the Colorado Convention Center to the homeless next month as part of a national effort to give them access to nonprofit agencies, health care providers and potential employers.
Denver is one of 30 cities that will participate in the Dec. 8 event, called Project Homeless Connect. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend.
The effort is modeled after a gathering San Francisco hosted last year. It became so popular that San Francisco now hosts it every two months. Last month’s gathering even provided space for shopping-cart storage.
“This concept worked so well because it provides a full array of services in one place,” said United Way spokeswoman Stacey Haskell. “They don’t have to go to different agencies on different days for different problems. Everyone will be here in one location.”
Roughly 12 to 15 care providers will have clinics and booths in Denver, in addition to 12 to 15 nonprofit agencies that offer various forms of support.
As the homeless arrive, they will go through an evaluation process to determine what services each person needs. Services include medical care, eye and dental care, mammograms, massages, haircuts, legal advice and assistance with applying for government benefits. They also will receive donated food, clothing and hygiene kits.
Denver’s Department of Theatres and Arenas donated the use of about 45,000 square feet in the convention center’s Exhibition Hall, according to Pat Coyle of the Department of Human Services. RTD has donated the use of three buses, which will pick up the attendees at staggered hours from the west side, east side and central Denver.
United Way has signed up 100 volunteers for the day, most of whom will serve as one-on- one escorts to walk the homeless through the array of services. Another 200 volunteers are needed. Those interested are asked to sign up on the United Way website, www.unitedwaydenver.org.
Organizers say they are worried about a crush of homeless when the doors open at 10 a.m. For that reasons, the buses and other donated vans will stagger their transport of attendees throughout the day.
“We expect to handle about 1,000 people comfortably,” Coyle said. “If it gets upward toward 2,000, we’ll be buried.”
Staff writer Mike McPhee can be reached at 303-820-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com.
