ESC holds Project Homeless Connect in downtown Joplin

On Friday, the Homeless Coalition of Jasper and Newton Counties sponsored “Project Homeless Connect” in downtown Joplin today [Monday].

The goal of the event, held at Central Christian Center at 410 Virginia, is to connect homeless people with essential services.

Services available include housing connections, employment information, mental health services, medical services, COVID vaccinations, HIV testing, treatment services and legal aid.

One agency on site today was the Joplin Salvation Army.

Salvation Army caseworker Debra Gaskill told NewsTalk KZRG that the Salvation Army offers numerous services to the homeless community:

“We offer breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. On Saturday we have lunch. We have a meal after church. In terms of social services, we do clothing vouchers for our thrift store, rent past dues, utilities, some prescriptions,” she said.

Gaskill says on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, men and women can do one load of laundry and can take a shower at the Salvation Army.

She says about 15-20 people use the shower at the Salvation Army on each of those days.

The Salvation Army is located between 7th and 8th on Kentucky in Joplin.