MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County will hold its annual Project Homeless Connect resource fair on Wednesday, Jan. 28, offering free services and support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing housing.
The event will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 70 Maple Ave., in Morristown. An opening ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m., with doors opening to the public at 10 a.m. Services will be available until 2 p.m., county officials said. Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers is among the speakers expected to deliver welcome remarks.
Organized in partnership with the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, the event will bring together more than 40 community-based service providers, the county said. Services will include housing resources, energy and utility assistance, employment and veterans services, and help related to mental health, substance use and domestic violence. The county said free health screenings, vaccines, HIV testing, haircuts, food, clothing and other support services also will be available. No appointments are required.
Two county mobile units will be stationed at the site, officials said: Navigating Hope, operated by the Office of Temporary Assistance, will provide access to benefits and housing support, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Hope One unit will offer addiction recovery and mental health services.
The event will coincide with the federally mandated Point in Time count, an annual effort to measure the number of people experiencing homelessness locally and nationwide. County officials said Project Homeless Connect will serve as the kickoff to this year’s count, with surveys conducted during the event and the following day, Jan. 29, to determine where individuals slept the night of Jan. 27.
“The annual PIT count provides critical insight into who is experiencing homelessness in Morris County and helps guide planning and funding decisions, as well as program development and resource allocation,” said Morris County Human Services Director Kasey Errico. “We are grateful to the volunteers who make this effort possible and help ensure we have accurate data to address the complex challenges surrounding homelessness.”
Project Homeless Connect began in San Francisco in 2004 and later expanded nationwide. Morris County launched its program in 2006 and has since developed it into a year-round initiative delivering services at drop-in centers in Dover and Morristown, county officials said.
