LEAD PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS
Theresa Williams & Kara Harmet , City of Missoula, Reaching Home
Margaret Hoyt , City of Missoula, Missoula in Motion
Bronwyn Troutman, , Summit Independent Living
Ivy Anderson & Danielle Campbell, Parenting Place
Angela Johnson , River of Life Church
Julie Pavlish & Katie Sadowski , Homeword
Yvonne Cooper & Kaitlyn Bosshardt , Partnership Health Center
Sierra Lowney, Rebecca Stancil, Lisa Smith & Betsy Robel , Missoula Housing Authority
Emily Kapla n & Amanda Caesar , Missoula Food Bank
Charity Atteberry , University of Montana
Eileen Sansom, , Human Resource Council
Patti Solomon, Jane Kisselbach & Brendan Moles , Community Volunteers
Dacia Griego and Olivia Kleinsasser , YWCA of Missoula
Marilyn Thorn & Grace Benasutti , Missoula Interfaith Collaborative
Jake Lapke & Matt Hendry, Western Montana Mental Health Center
Sindie Kennedy & Eileen Flannigan Lewis , Missoula County
Jill Bonny , The Poverello Center
Judy Douglas , Missoula Aging Services
Andrea Stephens , Missoula County Public Schools
Project Community Connect Objectives
  1. To connect Missoula's people who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless to core services that can help lead to self-sufficiency through a "one-stop" service model
  2. To connect volunteers with Missoula’s people who are experiencing homelessness for a day of service, as well as future opportunities to help people in need.
  3. To connect service providers with each other in order to serve people who are experiencing homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless in a new and different way.
  4. To demonstrate broad community support to those experiencing homelessness in Missoula and to provide human connections to people who are often alienated.

By the Numbers
  • Approximately 300 people received 2,563 services through Project Community Connect 2019.
  • 90 community volunteers provided 243.5 hours throughout the day and with preparation prior to the event.
  • 28 MSW students and their Professor provided 145 hours throughout the day, with a specific focus on the annual "Point-in-Time" homeless survey
  • 140 Big Sky High School Health Science Academy student volunteers and chaperones provided 200 hours throughout the day and with preparation prior to the event.
  • 115 community organizations and businesses participated in the event.
Services Provided
Below is a full list of services provided at the event. The most utilized agency was Montana Fair Housing, serving 181 people.

  • Aging and Disability Services
Application assistance and information on Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Disability Benefits, and the Para-transit Bus Service, resources and referrals for people with disabilities, and information on how to save on medications, medical expenses, food, dental, vision, and housing

  • Benefits: Public Assistance & SNAP
Information on Medicare/Medicaid benefits and SNAP applications

  • Child, Youth, & Family Services
Parent education classes, respite child care, housing, mental health, employment, parenting

  • Clothing
Clothing and shoes

  • Clothing Repair
Sewing and mending

  • Credit Reports & Financial Education
Free credit reports, financial information

  • Dental Care
Dental screenings and cleanings, oral health care education, dentist referrals

  • Employment
Resource referrals, pocket resumes, interviewing information, workplace basics, assistance, training, technical training, career counseling, Social Security Benefits

  • Eye Care
Reading glasses, eyeglass repair kits, eyeglass cleaning cloths, Lions Club applications and a handout of vision providers that accept Medicaid

  • Financial Services
Financial education, budgeting assistance, credit and debt solutions, identity theft protection, and tax services information provided. Free tri-merge credits pulled and reviewed.

  • Food Service/Coffee
Lunch, snacks and coffee provided

  • Food/Pantry Items
Food items to take from the event

  • Haircuts
Shampoo and a haircut

  • Housing
Housing discrimination information, mentoring returning citizens, housing resources, rental assistance, applications, hand warmers, recovery programs, credit checks, background checks

  • IDs, Driver's Licenses/Birth Certificates
Financial assistance with the cost of obtaining a driver's license, ID, or birth certificate, and help completing necessary paperwork to apply for the documents

  • Legal Services
Legal assistance and referrals (civil)

  • Medical
Bone density screenings and A1C, foot checks, blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, wound care, vaccines and rapid testing

  • Mental Health & Addiction Recovery
Referrals and resources

  • Personal Hygiene
Hygiene kits distributed by the YWCA

  • Pet Services
Food, leashes, collars, toys, information on low cost spay/neuter services, vaccinations and kennels for pets during the event


  • Transportation
Bike lights, helmets, bus schedules and route information, and bicycle maintenance


  • Veteran Resources
Benefits, resources/referrals, employment, financial, legal, job service, housing and counseling information
Video Credit: Ryan Graham-Laughlin
Video Credit: Andrea Stephens, Big Sky High School Health Science Academy
Participating Agencies & Sponsors
Aging & Disability Services
Missoula Aging Services
Summit Independent Living

Benefits, TANF
Humana
Office of Public Assistance

Youth & Family Services
The Parenting Place
Mountain Home Montana
Youth Dynamics

Clothing
Consumer Direct
REI Missoula
Missoula County Court House
Missoula Aging Services
United Way
Community Medical Center
River of Life Church
The Women's Club
Missoula Public Library

Dental
Paradise Dental Technologies
Dr. McFarland
Dr. Byington
Heidi Halverson, R.D. H., L.A.P.
Partnership Health Center
Other volunteer hygienists from various practices
Great Falls MSU Dental College
Discovery Dental

Employment
Human Resource Council
IAWP
Job Service
SNAP
MTC Job Corps
Pathways
VOC Rehab
Union Gospel Mission

Eye Care
Missoula Lion's Club
VSP Mobile Eyes

Food
Costco
Culligan Water
Good Food Store
Southgate Mall
Liquid Planet
Break Espresso
Albertsons

Financial
Homeword

Haircuts
Altruist salon

Housing
Montana Fair Housing
Union Gospel Mission of Missoula WCC
Welcome Back!
Missoula Housing Authority
Salvation Army
YWCA
The Poverello Center
VICTIG Screening Solutions
Missoula Interfaith Collaborative

IDs/Birth Certificates
Missoula County Clerk & Recording
Department of Motor Vehicles
Legal Services
Montana Legal Services Association

Medical
IPHARM Univ. of Montana
MSU Nursing program
MCCHD Care Van
Partnership Health Center
Aerie Backcountry Medicine
M.E.S.I
Open Aid Alliance
IPHARM-Skaggs School of Pharmacy-University of Montana
College of Nursing Students and Instructors
Missoula City County Health Department
Blue Cross Blue Shield Care Van

Mental Health
Missoula Urban Indian Health Center
3 Rivers Mental Health
Winds of Change
Stepping Stones Counseling
Project Tomorrow
Western Montana Mental Health Center
Northwest Adult and Teen Challenge
Tamarack Grief Counseling
Union Gospel Mission - Grace House
Sunburst Mental Health
Winds of Change Mental Health
Teen Challenge Addiction
WMMHC - Jail Diversion
WE CARE
Tamarack Grief Support
Project Tomorrow

Personal Hygiene
ATG
YWCA

Pets
Missoula Housing Authority
Humane Society of Western Montana
Missoula Veterinary Specialty Clinic
Missoula Animal Control
Cats on Broadway
Patti Prato
Bliss Beauty Bar

Veterans
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program
Montana Veterans Affairs Division
MTNGB Family Assistance Center
HUD-VASH
Vet Center
Alex Darnell & Gena Burke

Misc.
United Way of Missoula County
Town Pump Foundation
Lucky's Corporation
Blackfoot Telecommunications
City of Missoula
Zootown Church
Department of Health and Human Services
Beach Transportation
University of Montana Social Work
First United Methodist Church
ASUM Transportation
Big Sky High School
City of Missoula Housing and Community Development
Wal-Mart
Good Food Store
Super Wal-Mart
Special Thanks To...
  • Zootown Church for hosting our 13th event and the amazing logistical support we received from Marcy Askvig, Zootown Church Office Administrator.
  • Judy Douglas for coordinating the volunteer efforts.
  • Andrea Stephens and her Big Sky High School Health Science Academy Students.
  • Ryan Graham-Laughlin for creating the event video.
  • University of Montana School of Social Work's Jen Molloy and Jim Caringi and the 1st year Master of Social Work students for completing the annual Point-in-Time Survey with event participants.
  • The Board of County Commissioners for allocating funds for the costs of obtaining IDs, Driver's Licenses and Birth Certificates.
  • Blackfoot Telecommunications, Southgate Mall, United Way, VICTIG| Screening Solutions and Town Pump Foundation for their generous financial contributions.
  • Missoula Food Bank for using one of their trucks as a pre- and post- event “moving truck.”
  • Beach Transportation and ASUM Transportation for providing a shuttle service throughout the day.
  • First United Methodist Church for hosting a breakfast prior to the event.
  • All other participating agencies and event sponsors/donors (included above).