OUR MISSION: The BARN will act as a transparent organization to help create functional and dynamic partnerships between area service providers to increase advocacy efforts for the homeless.


What We Do

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event that has been recognized as a national "best practice" in the fight against poverty and homelessness. The event is designed to provide a safe place for homeless or near-homeless individuals and families to access numerous forms of assistance in a caring, one-stop setting. Examples of services offered include housing, job connections, medical care, and legal aid. For community members struggling to get by, gaining access to these key services is more essential than ever.

Project Homeless Connect represents a unique collaboration between the city government, business community and non-profit service providers. It is a key component of "Welcome Home Billings," the Magic City's newly approved ten-year plan to impact chronic homelessness.

Event Date and Location

January 26, 2011 9am-4pm
Shrine Auditorium, 1125 Broadwater Ave

Event History

Project Homeless Connect was developed in the fall of 2004 by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and the National Project Homeless Connect Partnership with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness was launched in December of 2005. As of 2008, over 200 cities in the United States, Canada and Australia had initiated annual Project Homeless Connect events. The first Billings Project Homeless Connect event was held in 2007.

Although Project Homeless Connect events differ from city to city, they share certain key characteristics:

  • Hospitality: consumers are welcomed as guests
  • Immediacy: same-day results for consumers
  • Community: voluntary civic participation
  • Partnership: across agencies and sectors
  • Excellence: rigorous evaluation and improvement
  • One day: A community-wide event
  • One stop: Housing, support and quality of life resources
  • One goal: Ending homelessness
  • City, county, or community led
  • Consumer-centric
"Having worked in homeless services for the past twelve years, I must admit that this is the most hopeful and productive time I can recall." -PHC services provider

"It is very empowering to go and be a person that can extend some dignity to someone who hasn't felt it in years." -PHC volunteer

How Can I Help?

Our goal is to provide essential information and on-site services to community members who are homeless or near-homeless. We strive to connect people to as many resources as possible, and emphasize the value of offering a caring "hand up." You can contribute to the event by:

Provide a Service
Provide information about your agency, or offer your agency's services/referrals to those services.

Volunteering a Service
Visit YouCanVolunteer.org to learn about opportunities to serve.

Make a Cash Donation
Make a donation to the event and help cover the costs of things like application fees, phone cards, hotel vouchers, etc.

Checks can be written to the City of Billings with Project Homeless Connect in the memo line.

Send to:
Community Development Division
510 N. Broadway, 4th Floor
Billings MT 59101

 Donate Items
The following items are needed

  • Food, beverages, or ice
  • Backpacks
  • Towels
  • Gift Cards
  • Bus Tokens
  • New winter clothing (coats, hats, scarves, gloves, thick socks, men's long underwear)
  • Small sewing kits
  • Diapers
  • Phone cards
  • Small first aid kits
  • Hotel vouchers