The fourth annual Project Homeless Connect (PHC) will be held at the University of Denver on April 20 in a partnership with the city of Denver and Mile High United Way and is expected to draw up to 1,000 homeless to the campus.

Homeless from the Denver metro area will be bused to Gates Field House to participate in a one-day service fair that will offer government services and job opportunities to those attending.

Project Homeless Connect has had similar projects in over 230 cities and is part of Denver’s plan to end homelessness in 10 years.

The daylong event will start with the homeless arriving to campus around 9 a.m on April 20.

The homeless will be coming on the light rail, buses, in personal cars and some on foot.

Childcare will be provided, as many of the homeless coming are mothers with children.

Every homeless person attending will be given a volunteer escort who will shepherd the attendee through a variety of services.

Project Homeless Connect is intended as one-stop services fair, where people who are homeless can find resources and have immediate and long-term needs met or addressed.

Medical care and housing services will be provided, education information and job interviews will be available, haircuts will be offered and laundry vouchers and toiletries will be distributed.

The event allows homeless people to access numerous service providers in one day as opposed to making calls and visits on their own, something that could normally take weeks or months.

DU is offering its facilities for PHC as part of the University’s long-term partnership with the city of Denver.

The service fair allows for volunteer opportunities for students, families, alumni and community members during and after the April 20 event.

As the university continues working with the city after PHC, DU faculty and staff will work with Denver agencies to identify research, service learning and internship opportunities for the DU community, including students, to continue working on city projects.

The three previous Project Homeless Connect events were held in downtown Denver. Last year’s co-sponsor was Comcast.