Event today aims to give homeless aid, respect

The first-ever Tucson Homeless Connect is part of a local effort to eradicate homelessness, said Leslie Carlson, coordinator of the Plan to End Homelessness in Tucson and Pima County.

She said it's also an effort to show homeless Tucsonans — particularly those who are chronically homeless — that they matter. Politicians, including Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elías, are expected to be on hand to greet attendees, she said.

"We are trying to make it a very welcoming and hospitable environment," Carlson said.

"We will greet people and welcome them, say 'we're glad to see you.' If the chairman of the Board of Supervisors greets you, that makes you feel more special."

Haircuts, bus passes, eyeglasses, health screening, hygiene kits and pet food are among the items that will be given out at the event at a UA-area church. Help with finding job training and rent assistance will also be available.

"This isn't a health fair or a resource fair, it's kind of a one-stop special event to give direct, tangible help and maybe helping people to exit homelessness," said Carlson.

"A lot of times people get stuck. They might have an outstanding legal problem, or they might not have identification — that's a biggie. Not having ID can be a huge barrier."

In a recent shelter and street count, the Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless found at least 3,100 homeless adults and children in Tucson, though the group estimates there may be as many as 5,000.

During the 2006-07 school year, Pima County school districts and charter schools identified 3,711 children who were homeless at some point during the academic year.

"Our service providers are reporting more homelessness among families," Carlson said.

"There's the image of the single guy with the shopping cart. Certainly we have single men, but increasingly we are seeing homeless families."

There are no hard data to reflect how the economy has affected local homelessness, but Carlson said she expects that it has had a significant impact.

"We haven't done the tally, but right now we definitely have more people at risk for becoming homeless," she said.

"There are always people who live paycheck to paycheck, and the price of food or gas or an illness — one little thing can put people in a position where they can't keep up."

Carlson said among the more critical resources that will be available is help for people in navigating bureaucracies so that they can receive services such as Social Security checks and food stamps, which many of them are eligible to receive.

"It could be that they are so sick and tired of bureaucracy or of people looking at them like they are dirt, and it's preventing them from getting help that they're qualified to receive," she said.

Where, when

The first-ever Tucson Homeless Connect event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd.