Resource outreach event Thursday for Gainesville, Hall County homeless

Over 30 resources ranging from medical care to clothing to government aid will gather Thursday to reach out to the Gainesville and Hall County homeless population.

Michael Fisher, the housing coordinator for Ninth District Opportunity, also oversees the Street Outreach program for the area. He said this event is for the homeless and houseless neighbors in the community who need a little help.

"We're trying to make this available to people who have real challenges," said Fisher. 

Some of the organizations at the resource fair include Good News at Noon and Good News Clinics, which Fisher said includes health and dental check ups and COVID-19 vaccines, and Avita will be on site for mental wellness assistance.

Other challenges to tackle, like disability, the housing authority, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and others, will have representatives available to help guide attendees to get what they need through those services, or at least start the process.

"The idea was, the homeless are having a hard time, especially during the pandemic and we're still in the middle of that," said Fisher. "Getting out to these places, getting to the people they need to see about getting services... so our idea was, why don't we have all the services in one place where the homeless can just come to it, where they can walk to? So that's what this is, that's what the purpose of this event is."

A mobile shower unit, The Clean Start, will also be at the event. Fisher said the ministry is coming up from Miami and has partnered with them for the event. 

"There's going to be a 27-foot box truck there with a self-contained shower for our folks to get clean and feel great about themselves," Fisher said. "We've had towels donated, shampoos, washcloths, it's gonna be a great experience for them, getting a chance to have a little dignity, at least for a day."

Untouchable Salon of Gainesville will also be providing haircuts. Clean clothes and dental kits will be available as well.

"We go out into the homeless camps each and every week bringing services, supplies, and food," said Fisher. "As you know, right now we have a real issue with housing, affordable housing, we have challenges with any type of shelters - majority of the time they're full - so the very best we can do is make their life less miserable. Try to bring any kind of positivity we can, so that's why this event was created."

This is the third outreach resource event they have done in 2021, Fisher said, and they hope to continue putting on at least two or three each year. "Big events like this, last time we served in excess of 110 homeless individuals," he said. "There is a significant, growing homeless population here in Hall County, so the idea is we gotta do something, we can't just sit by an act like they don't exist and they don't need help."

Fisher said they will need volunteers the day of, so anyone who wants to can just show up at the event and be ready to help.