Project Homeless Connect returns to Kalispell Thursday and Friday, June 12 and 13.

A wide variety of services for individuals, families and veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless will be available at the fourth annual Project Homeless Connect at the Samaritan House Administration Center, 1110 Second Street West in Kalispell.

Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.

Project Homeless Connect is a collaborative event coordinated by the Project Homeless Connect Committee, sponsored by Community Action Partnership, Samaritan House and the United Way Volunteer Center.

A total of 637 people were served last year, including 98 veterans, 89 seniors and 179 youths.

Twenty-four businesses, nonprofit and government agencies are participating in Project Homeless Connect. Services range from bicycle repair to medical and dental services.

Guests will be asked to fill out an intake form that will assess their situation, including whether they consider themselves to be homeless or at risk for being homeless (about to be evicted or foreclosed etc.) and whether they have struggled to pay housing costs such as rent, mortgages or utility bills over the past six months. The intake form will help direct people to appropriate services.

Among the services available are:

° Bicycle repair

° Child car seat installation

° Dental exam, cleaning and treatment referrals

° Employment assistance

° Financial education

° Free lunch at Cafe Connect

° Hair care

° Identification services (Montana driver’s licenses and birth certificates)

° Medical services, including immunizations, hearing test referral, reading glasses and general health information

° Pet services, including vaccinations, basic health checkup, spay/neuter certificate

° Veterans services, including transportation and housing options, medical services, readjustment counseling, advocacy and employment for veterans

° Household items and personal care items, including clothing and accessories, backpacks and sleeping bags and food bags.

On Thursday at 9 a.m. the Flathead Homelessness Interagency Resource and Education will release its five-year plan to address homelessness.

Volunteers are still being accepted to help with Project Homeless Connect. Volunteers will assist with a specific work assignment. Volunteers must be registered and there will be an orientation session before the event. Registration forms are available by calling the United Way Volunteer Center at 752-7266 or e-mailing to caring@northwestmontanaunitedway.org.

Organizations participating in this year’s Project Homeless Connect are Abbie Shelter, Adult Protective Services, Agency on Aging, Community Action Partnership, Community Kitchen, Flathead Valley Homeless Youth, Flathead Youth Home, Glacier Bank, Head Start, Homelessness Interagency Resource and Education , Job Service, Mental Health Center, Montana Legal Services, North West Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Nurturing Center, Park Side Credit Union, Rural Dynamics, Salvation Army, Samaritan House, School Districts 5 and 50, Self Help Law Center, SNAP Education – Extension Office, VA Homeless Program and Montana Veterans Affairs.