Duke Eye Center will once again participate in the Durham Project Homeless Connect providing vision screenings for attendees.

Durham’s Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop, on-site center designed to connect homeless people with a broad range of needed services for free. Over the last four years, Durham’s Project Homeless Connect has connected 1,000-plus volunteers to 1,000=plus of Durham’s at-risk and homeless community.

The goals of this year’s Project Homeless Connect are very simple: to house 20 households, employ 10 people, and recruit 550 volunteers. With participation from community organizations, these goals can easily be met.

The event takes place Thursday, October 13, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell Street in Durham, near the American Tobacco Campus.

Quick Facts About Project Homeless Connect

• Project Homeless Connect (PHC) has served over 1,000 homeless and at-risk for homeless people
• Over 1,200 volunteers have given more than 10,000 hours in community service
• PHC has served over 2,500 meals
• 17 households have been housed the day of the event
• Three gained employment
• 70 percent of our guests are first time visitors
• 90 percent of our guests reside in Durham County
• 71 percent of our guests have a high school diploma, some college, or a college degree
• 60 percent of our guests are precariously housed or "doubled-up"