Project Homeless Connect Salt Lake City is a one-day event that provides individuals and families experiencing homeless access to vital services such as housing, medical and dental care, bike repair, haircuts, foot care, pet care, veterans services and much more. The goal is to provide as many services in one day and in one location to those in our community who are at-risk.

Come be a part of a meaningful experience as a volunteer at Project Homeless Connect. Opportunities include being a guide to a homeless client throughout the venue, check-in and check-out, event operations, and distribution of goods.

Volunteer registration for PHC 2018 is not open yet.

Keep checking back or visit our Facebook page for more information.

Volunteer Coordinators

Volunteer Coordinators will welcome and sign in volunteers the day of the event. Duties include directing volunteers to the appropriate registration line, signing them in, handing out volunteer t-shirts, and providing information about volunteer shifts.

Set-Up Crew

Reports to Logistics Lead. This role is crucial to the success of our event! The morning of the event volunteers are needed to assist with set-up. Duties include: arranging tables and chairs, hanging signs, placing barricades and cones, and other set-up tasks as assigned. The ability to lift and/or carry up to 35 lbs is helpful.

Street Outreach Crew

Pairs of volunteers will be outdoors on surrounding blocks guiding participants to the Salt Palace. In addition, some volunteers will be placed at all entrances to the Salt Palace to direct participants to the main entrance to Project Homeless Connect.

Arrival Process Crew

Reports to Arrival Services Manager. Wayfinding, queue management and general client assistance. Some pairs of volunteers will be outdoors on surrounding blocks guiding participants to the Salt Palace. In addition, some volunteers will be placed at all entrances to the Salt Palace to direct participants to the main entrance to Project Homeless Connect.

Check-In Crew

Reports to Check-in Lead. Check-in volunteers greet clients, record their name and arrival time on their intake form and connect them with a volunteer who escorts them to the connection lounge where they meet their client guide. Check-in volunteers will be seated. Friendliness and good communication is helpful for this role. PLEASE NOTE:  Check-In requires an ALL-DAY commitment.

Appointment Registrar

Many services will need to have appointments made at the event. The Appointment Registration area will set up appointments at a number of areas using a shared calendar system. Volunteers should have computer experience.

Interpreters

Interpreters at our event help participants communicate their needs to service providers in a number of areas, notably Check-In, Medical, and Check-Out. Interpreter volunteers make it possible for many of our non-English speaking participants to connect with services.

Housing & Center Services Support

This service area provides shelter access and information to find and obtain housing.  Volunteers will help screen clients and guide them to the appropriate services.

Medical Services Support

The medical area at Project Homeless Connect is a basic urgent care center where brief medical care is provided, but more importantly, participants are connected with primary care providers in clinics throughout the city. Volunteers with medical experience are preferred to discuss needs with clients and connect them to the appropriate services.

Vision Services Support

Volunteers will assist in triage and check-in of participants and then connect them to the appropriate service provider.

Personal Services Support

Volunteers will assist in an area that includes a number of personal services such as haircuts, phones, library cards, yoga, and more. Volunteers will welcome each participant to the service area and then help guide them to the requested service.

Women's Health Support

The Women’s Health service area is a private area. Volunteers will help welcome the women to the area and make them feel comfortable as they fill out appropriate paperwork and receive their services. Medical and related women’s health experience is not necessary but is preferred.

Client Outreach Services Support

Volunteers will assist in the check-in of participants and guide them to the appropriate service provider. Services include LGBTQ, Youth and Children, Senior Support and more.

Legal and Financial Services Support

Volunteers will receive and check in participants who need legal and financial assistance. Volunteers will assist the Service Area Lead in making sure that lines move, people understand what is available, and that they are connected to their appropriate services.

Response Team Crew

Reports to Response Team Lead. General responsiveness to needs and tasks that arise throughout the day related to all manner of event operations. Positions are assigned on event day by the Response Team Lead.

Service Area Crew

Reporting to the Service Area Lead, Service Area Crew assists with specific service offerings to our client in the following areas: Food, hygiene & clothes distribution; housing services; Dental; Medical; Mental Health; Vision; Education & Vocational; Wellness & Self-care; Women's Health; Community Services; Veteran Services; Legal & Financial. This team also coordinates Client Service appointments to ensure clients and providers are being well-paced and getting proper support to avoid bottlenecks. PLEASE NOTE: Often a standing position, some lifting is possible.

General Event Support

If you are unsure of where you would like to volunteer, or you want to help us out where we need it most, please sign up here! Positions are assigned on event day by the volunteer coordinator.

Clean Up

Come and help us breakdown the event! Duties include: breaking down and stacking tables and chairs, collecting signs, stacking barricades, cleaning up and sweeping, dismantling tents, and other tasks as assigned. The ability to lift and/or carry up to 35 lbs is helpful.

Bag Check Crew

Reports to Bag Check Lead. Volunteers in Bag Check are responsible for greeting participants as they enter the event venue and helping to provide a secure space to store their personal belongings. This service is vital at events so that we are able to keep the main arena clear of larger items.

Breakfast Servers

Reports to Breakfast Manager. Catholic Community Services and the Miller Foundation are providing breakfast for our clients from 8-9:30. Breakfast volunteers will be cooking and serving a basic breakfast and inviting clients to cross the street and attend the main event.

Check-Out & Data Entry

Check-out is the final stop at PHC events. Check-out volunteers work one-on-one with participants to ensure they have received the services they need. Volunteers also ask for honest feedback from participants about what is working well at Project Homeless Connect, what may need improvement, and what additional services they would like to see. Data entry volunteers ensure that all fields are complete on each client's form before checking out and spend part of their shift entering the data into the online database, including volunteer evaluation and service provider evaluation forms in addition to client information.

Client Guides

Client Guides are the first point of contact for participants at the event. This role is crucial in helping to engage participants, and to make them feel welcome. Volunteers will escort participants from Check-In to their first service area and help them to navigate the venue throughout the event. Volunteering as a Client Guide is a great way to introduce yourself to our program and gain a broad understanding of the services available at our event.

Food & Hygiene Center Support

Before leaving the event, PHC participants receive a bag and may select some personal clothing items as well as take away food items. Volunteers are needed to help pass out clothing items, groceries, sack lunches, to set up and lay food out on tables, to re-stock areas, and to break down boxes. At times, the distribution can be very fast-paced. PLEASE NOTE: This is a standing position, and some heavy lifting is involved.

Dental Services Support

The onsite dental section at our events conducts screenings for participants in need of cleanings and fillings before sending them for treatment. Volunteers are needed to help maintain an organized patient flow, to work directly with participants who need assistance with forms, and to escort participants to the off-site clinic once they have been screened. We have a special need for bilingual speakers in this area.vices.

Reading Glasses Support

You will work with participants to select a pair of reading glasses. At each event, we have many styles and strengths of glasses to choose from. A brief training will be provided the day of the event.

Education and Vocational Services

Volunteers will assist with check-in and guiding clients to services including a resume lab, vocational rehab, employment counseling and more. Some volunteers may assist in the completion of funding applications.

Pet Care Support

The volunteers in the Pet Care service area of Project Homeless Connect will assist in receiving pets and guiding them to vet services. Volunteers in this area should be comfortable around all kinds of animal temperaments. Volunteers will also help pets that may be kenneled to feel safe.

Mental Health & Counseling Support

Volunteers will assist in check-in of the participants, filling out paperwork, connecting them to the appropriate service provider and making the participant’s experience comfortable. Experience working with those with mental illness is preferred but not required.

Veteran Services Support

The Veterans Service Area will include a wide range of services for veterans only. Volunteers will assist with the check-in of participants, filling out paperwork, guiding them to the appropriate service provider, and other needs requested by the Veterans Administration staff.

Logistics Crew

Reports to Logistics Lead. Duties include responding to needs of service providers such as arranging tables and chairs, hanging signs, placing barricades and cones, and other set-up tasks as assigned to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and service access. The ability to lift and/or carry up to 35 lbs is helpful.

Ride-Along Crew

Reports to Street Outreach Lead. Ride in mini-vans with a driver to specific, predetermined locations around downtown to talk with homeless people, tell them about Project Homeless Connect, and offer to transport them directly there. Must be outgoing, friendly and have good communication skills.

Transition Crew

Transition volunteers work directly with the check-in team. Once a client has provided their name and received a service form, the check-in volunteer introduces them to the transition volunteer who escorts them to the connection lounge where they are paired up with a client guide who will accompany them throughout the rest of the event. The transaction volunteer then returns to the check-in station for the next client. Reports to Check-in Lead