Hope for the homeless

Roughly one out of four is a veteran. Many are children. Some suffer mental illness.

What they all have in common is the lack of a roof over their heads. They're the homeless of our region, and while a team of dedicated volunteers is helping them, we're going to learn quite a bit more about them on Thursday.

North Idaho Project Homeless Connect will feed, clothe and provide many other services for our area's homeless people Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the National Guard Armory on Seltice Way. We became acutely aware of the program several years ago when a 19-year-old soldier injured in combat returned home physically, psychologically and financially wiped out. Project Homeless Connect helped put him on the right path, and today the young man is happily married and gainfully employed. We can attest to the program's effectiveness.

Now in its fourth year, Project Homeless Connect offers free items and services to the homeless people of Idaho's five northern counties. Food, clothing, haircuts, veterinarian services for their pets, showers, pet food, sleeping bags, bicycle repair and dental and foot care are among the many goods and services that will be provided.

Organized by the Idaho Department of Labor, attendance has doubled in each of the program's first three years: 125 people served the first year, 250 the second and 500 the third. Organizers anticipate 750 on Thursday.

Not only is the program effective because it helps so many people, including school children, but because it provides a "point in time" survey for those in our region working to end homelessness. By the end of the day Thursday, much more will be known about our homeless population, which is the first step in addressing whatever made them homeless in the first place.

We applaud the program organizers and many volunteers whose mission is to end homelessness in North Idaho. To volunteer or donate to Project Homeless Connect, call Brandia Young at 457-8789, ext. 3998.