‘One-Stop Shopping’ Planned for Homeless

The Los Angeles County Department of Health is teaming up with various community agencies to link the homeless with service programs at a “Connections Day” on Friday.

The day is a resource fair for the homeless. Organizers aim to match the homeless with medical, employment, mental health, psychological and housing assistance programs offered by such community agencies as People in Progress and Community of Friends, said Ron Klein, district chief and director of the West Valley Mental Health Center, one of the event organizers.

“The mission is to link both human service agencies to one another and to ensure the homeless population becomes more aware of those services as well,” Klein said.

The first of its kind in the San Fernando Valley, “Connections Day” is part of the county’s Connections Project that provides homeless people with resources to assist them through continuous care. This pilot program is funded by a HUD grant.

Klein said he hopes the event becomes an annual occurrence that the Valley’s homeless can rely on.

“This could really make a big impact on the lives of the homeless,” Klein said. “We want it to be kind of a one-stop shopping for them.”

In addition to representatives of various service agencies, local government and law enforcement officials will also be on hand.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the San Miguel Inn, 6719 Sepulveda Blvd.

For more information, contact the West Valley Mental Health Center at (818) 598-6919.