Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- About 100 homeless and jobless people jammed a basement in St. Joseph's Church Wednesday, seeking help from more than a half-dozen social service agencies through a program called Rhode Island Project Homeless Connect.

Some needed a place to stay. Some needed medical care or an HIV test.

Brenda, 51, needed a new state ID and Social Security card. She lost both recently. A former nursing assistant and fast food clerk, she's been jobless for nearly a year and is behind on her rent. "Losing my ID is keeping me up at night," she said. "To get a job you have to prove who you are."

Last November, Providence hosted a similar program at Beneficent Church. More than 1,200 people came for help.

"Clearly, the number of homeless families is growing," said John O'Brien, regional coordinator for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Some cities are dealing with the problem through 10-year plans, he said. Programs like the one at St. Joseph's are a big help, too. "They're designed to have an impact on a person's life that day," O'Brien said. "There's a tremendous opportunity to do this other cities."

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