By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Jennifer Hazley has spent the better part of the last three years homeless.

Diagnosed with diabetes and poor blood circulation, Hazley also suffers from frequent blood clots, which makes working difficult. Currently, she lives at her mother’s house in Kissimmee but is trying to get disability benefits, which would enable her to live independently. For the benefits, she needs a valid identification, which she does not have, for proof of residency.

Hazley, 49, was one of nearly 600 homeless and low-income people who attended the 2010 Project Homeless Connect event Sept. 17 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. It was the second event of its kind in Osceola County.

Attendees were interviewed to determine their needs and then shepherded around by volunteers who helped them receive medical care, a shower or apply for a state-issued identification or food stamps. Nearly 40 organizations set up booths offering shelter, counseling, legal aid, medical services and other services to those who attended.

“The focus today really is the individual as a whole, what are the basic needs and how can we meet them,” Cathy Jackson, executive director of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, said. “Many of the folks who came that day are working and living in a car or circling motels. Folks are willing to endure a whole lot to keep what they believe is stable – stable.”

Jackson said although many families are living in motels along U.S. Highway 192, the focus remains on helping adults gain employment and assistance to help their children, if they have any. According to the Osceola County School District, 1,340 children enrolled in local schools for the 2009-10 school year were homeless.

Tom Griffin, who founded St. Cloud’s Transition House in 1993, said one in three homeless individuals is a veteran.

“Years ago, it was perceived homeless was the single, unaccompanied male. That’s not the case today. Now you see families, women with children, veterans,” he said.

The need, above all else, appeared to be identification; the line snaked out the door and down the hall, mingling with other lines. Preliminary reports show 579 inquiries during the event for birth certificates, identification and Social Security cards.

Raymond Nowell said he has been homeless off and on for 40 years; he lives on Social Security benefits, which allow him to rent a motel room in Kissimmee most weeks of the month. He used to do construction work for area theme parks but quit in 2001. He, like many others in line, needed a valid identification to apply for jobs.

Joel Remigio, program manager for the Homeless Services Network, said Florida-born attendees had better luck at acquiring birth certificates and identifications, documents im-perative to gain entrance into a shelter or motel and for prospective employers to hire new employees.

“Everyone’s just a victim of the economy. You think of homeless people as ‘bums,’ men sleeping on the street,” he said. “It’s a perception problem we’re having. People don’t want to help the ‘bums,’ but we help all kinds.”

Remigio said the organization hopes to offer in the future a community voicemail number for homeless and low-income families and individuals for job connections and follow-up from service organizations who help them.

“We can collect data and see if they’ve sought other services but we cannot see if they’ve stopped being homeless,” he said. “We’d love to be able to measure how these events help people.”

Attendees also were provided with donations as they left, including a bag of non-perishable food, socks, underwear, bug spray, towels and gender-specific hygiene kits.

Free hot showers were provided by Florida Hospital in a decontamination tent used for chemical spills. Each person was given a fresh bar of soap and a towel. Showers were mandatory if attendees wanted a free haircut, provided by Paul Mitchell students. Nearly 100 people took advantage of the free showers and haircuts.

“They all seem pretty happy to get a shower because many haven’t had a shower in a long time. They’re very grateful,” Paula Bass, emergency management coordinator for Florida Hospital, said. “A shower is one of those necessities that not everyone can have on a daily basis.”

As for Hazley, her identification is on hold indefinitely as she waits for a new birth certificate, which is needed to apply for state-issued identification.

“I want to be independent again. I really need a place of my own,” she said. “Everybody needs help. There’s not a lot of help around here for the people in need. We need more programs.”