A hand up for the homeless
<p>Tom DeShazer calms one of his family's dogs as Serena Streeper, a volunteer Prairie Animal Hospital's on-site clinic, offers the dog a treat Thursday at Project Homeless Connect at the National Guard Armory in Post Falls.</p>
<p>Jamie Loftis, a volunteer with Project Homeless Connect, searches through the boxes full of donated clothing to offer to those in need before the start of Thursday's event.</p>
POST FALLS - Rusty Rosenlund felt like a new man after he had his beard trimmed on Thursday.
"There's a good-looking man under all that hair," volunteer Lorraine Drake told Rosenlund as she finished cutting.
The comment drew a wide smile from Rosenlund.
"Thank you," he said softly.
The Coeur d'Alene man was among a record of more than 1,000 people who received a hand up during the fourth annual North Idaho Project Homeless Connect at the Idaho National Guard armory. Organizers expected about 750.
About 150 volunteers representing about 30 agencies offered lunch, food, clothing, dental services, bike repair, guidance and other help to the homeless or those in need. The number of those served at the event has doubled each year.
"This is pretty cool," Rosenlund said. "I'm glad they're putting this together to help all the people and me out. When I came back from Vietnam, some veterans were spit on. It now seems like they're getting better taken care of, and I think a lot of veterans are starting to come around to believe in people again and believe that they did all right over there."
Rosenlund said he tends bar part time, but finds himself in a difficult situation because he also needs to care for his father who has cancer.
He said events such as the Connect give him hope.
Tom DeShazer said he became homeless after his ex-wife and son moved here from Oregon and he tried to help them. He took his dog, Marley, to the Connect for veterinarian services and to get food for both the pet and himself.
"I think this event is awesome, and I try to help at every one when I'm not homeless," he said. "Part of me hates to come down here when there's so many people in need, but I'm very grateful for the help I'm getting."
Roger Madsen, director of the Idaho Department of Labor, a Connect organizer, said during the opening ceremony that he was "humbled and inspired" about the event. It is used to get a "point in time" estimate on the number of homeless in the area that is used for grant funding requests.
"Many of our neighbors and friends have suffered the last few years," Madsen said. "Let's pledge that every day beyond Jan. 27 that we do something to help and enrich our lives."
Post Falls American Legion Commander John Dunlap said it's sad that youth are among the faces of the homeless.
"We have children sleeping in vehicles at night," he said. "How do I know? I hand out blankets to them."
Virgil Edwards with the Disability Action Center said homelessness hits all ages and backgrounds.
"We have people sleeping in tents who fought for this country," he said. "More and more families and children are homeless. One thing that we're trying to get away from is that the face of homeless is not drunks. We know situations where the husband works, but he can't support a family on an $8- or $9-an-hour job.
"With housing, there's more demand than resources, so that leaves people out in the cold."
Mother Cathy Jenson said those in need are thankful for events such as the Connect.
"It's nice that they have something like this for families," she said while holding her 2-year-old daughter, Jessica, in the line for clothing. "There's a lot of people out there who are hurting, and we appreciate any help we can get."