The George H. Riedel Foundation has awarded $5,000 to help people who face housing crisis. Project Community Connect (PCC) is annual event that provides access to quality-of-life services for people in need. At that event, the group accepted applications for housing assistance for people who have exhausted all other options. Funding from the Riedel Foundation will assist those households identified in Hannibal facing housing crises, providing them with resources to regain stability.
“Stable, affordable housing is often cited as a top concern in the Hannibal area,” said LeAndra Bridgeman with Project Community Connect. “If we can help a family through a crisis and keep them in their home, they’re more likely to have a favorable outcome.”
In 2022, PCC received a $7,500 award from the Riedel Foundation for housing needs. That grant provided all the funding for housing in 2022. Using that money, PCC was able to prevent homelessness or provide assistance to obtain housing for 38 individuals in 20 households within the Hannibal city limits.
PCC brings together the various agencies that help people in need. At their annual event, attendees get a one-stop-shopping approach to all the services available. The programs represented at the event provide support for addressing variables that can be challenging and create obstacles for people in meeting their basic needs. They offer services such as medical screening, vaccinations, treatment vouchers, behavioral health support for adults, teens, and children, housing assistance, employment assistance, childcare, veteran’s services, help with obtaining birth certificates and state IDs, and other forms of financial assistance to overcome these barriers.