Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper rallied the 800 volunteers at Project Homeless Connect (PHC)Friday by applauding their efforts as well as the city of Denver’s event sponsors.

“It’s hard to recognize how difficult it is to get those chronically homeless people to take the first step,” he said to an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 that had gathered on the steps of the Ritchie Center in bright morning sunlight that promised a warm spring day and a cloudless Colorado blue sky.

“What you are doing today in many cases is a first step in a transformation [of someone’s life],” he said.

Hickenlooper established Denver’s Road Home, a 10-year plan to end homelessness in Denver, in 2005. In the first two years of the program, said Hickenlooper, homelessness has been reduced by 11 percent. Chronic homelessness has been reduced by 36 percent.

“This is not something that cannot be solved. It is just a matter of will,” said Hickenlooper.

The mayor was introduced by Chancellor Robert Coombe. This was the second time that DU had hosted Project Homeless Connect, a one-day, one-stop event at which homeless men, women and families can obtain housing, food stamps, medical help, settle outstanding arrest warrants and even get a haircut or compose a resume for a potential employer.

“Our students and faculty and staff, all of us know it’s a great privilege to be [a part of] this university. With that privilege comes great responsibility,” said Coombe, adding that the homeless project “is going to change a lot of lives.”

Richard Audsley, interim president of Mile High United Way, a co-sponsor of the event, also praised the volunteers for their dedication and enthusiasm, pointing out that volunteering offers an “opportunity to connect with individuals and families that are homeless…You are going to take so much away in addition to what you give.”

This is the sixth time the city has offered the program to meet the needs of the city’s homeless.