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Leashore reports 111 participants in 2026 Project Homeless Connect; 80% would use cold‑weather shelter
Summary
Leashore Center director Sherry Smith told the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly that Project Homeless Connect served 111 participants (241 household members) with 43 vendors and 183 volunteers, and that 80% of respondents would use a cold‑weather emergency shelter if available—data the group says are critical for securing state and federal funding.
Sherry Smith, executive director of the Leashore Center, told the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on April 7 that the 2026 Project Homeless Connect served 111 participants representing 241 household members and relied on 183 volunteers and 43 vendors. "It's a one‑stop shop," Smith said, describing the event's goal of efficiently connecting people to services and producing the annual HUD point‑in‑time and homeless inventory counts that funders require.
Smith said the event has run for 15 years and is used to produce local data for grant applications and program planning. Among the findings she presented: 54% of participants were female; 23% identified as Alaska Native; 41% had been homeless less than one year while 43% had experienced homelessness for one year or more. When asked whether they would use a cold‑weather emergency shelter if one were available, 80% of respondents said yes.
The presentation emphasized primary needs cited by participants—food, employment, housing, money and transportation—and secondary needs such as hygiene items, medical and dental care, winter gear, rental and utility assistance, and access to showers and laundry facilities. Smith noted that Project Homeless Connect also accommodates pets; this year participants brought 24 dogs and 12 cats.
Assemblymembers sought details about progress on a permanent cold‑weather shelter. Smith said churches and other potential host buildings often face fire‑code and retrofit costs that make conversion impractical without funding, and she pointed to existing providers such as the Nikiski Shelter of Hope and Leashore’s domestic‑violence‑focused services. "We still have this on our radar," Smith said of shelter development, "but we just don't have the resources for people who are living in the streets in their cars."
Why it matters: The data Smith presented feed into state and federal funding formulas (for example, HUD and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation) and are used by local agencies when applying for grants or justifying program expansion. Assembly members said they will use the data in upcoming budget discussions and asked staff and presenters to keep the assembly informed about shelter options and funding opportunities.
The assembly did not take formal action on the presentation; Smith offered the PowerPoint and follow‑up contact information.
Ending: Smith closed by thanking volunteers and partners and encouraging members to consult the posted slides and contact the Leashore Center for further information.
