BREMERTON – Six hundred local low-income and homeless residents attended the Project Connect at the Sheridan Park Community Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The annual one-day event offered resources to individuals and families who may be homeless or face homelessness.

This year, over 50 agencies provided with services  such as housing referrals, immunizations, eye exams, health screenings, rabies shots, sleeping bags, coats, haircuts, and more.

The Salvation Army also provided the participants with a hot meal and a sack lunch and about 25 students from the North Kitsap Options program served the food.

Project Connect is coordinated by the Continuum of Care Coalition of Kitsap County, which includes homeless and affordable housing service providers as well as organizations serving homeless and low-income residents of our community

“There was a great positive attitude from everyone; they walk their talk,” said a local homeless person. “People from real beauty parlors were willing to come and provide haircuts for those who needed them.”

As part of the annual Project Connect event, the Continuum of Care Coalition also coordinates the annual “Point in Time” count survey of homeless persons in Kitsap County.

This annual count is mandated by the State of Washington to be completed at some point during the last 10 days of January.

The results provide agencies and local officials real-time data about changing trends and needs of the county’s homeless population.

Included are the total number of people living unsheltered, the number of homeless veterans, as well as unaccompanied youth who are either living on the streets or couch surfing.

There were more than 40 volunteers assisting with the homeless count and other duties at Project Connect.

This year, 181 persons were identified at Project Connect as currently homeless in our community.

The total is an increase of 79 people from last year.

Of these individuals, the number of homeless people who indicated they are living unsheltered, i.e. sleeping on the streets, in a tent, or in their vehicles, rose to 69.

The final count will also include other homeless persons who voluntarily complete surveys at local food banks or at encampments in the woods.

Those residing in emergency shelter and transitional housing programs, if they were not already counted, will be included in the final results.

For more information on available homeless and housing resources, please go to the Continuum of Care website www.kitsapcontinuumofcarecoalition.org.