Guest:  Amber Mesita

Topic:  Project Connect event for homeless in Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming counties

Duration:  5:11

Published:  January 14, 2020

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Amber Mesita, Program Specialist for Homeless Alliance of Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Amber.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You're our guest today because you are the coordinating individual for an exciting event that's going to be taking place on January 30 called Project Connect, a bold attempt to reach out to people with housing issues in the three GOW counties, Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming. But if you could tell us more about Project Connect, what's that about?

Guest:  Project Connect is an attempt to bring together those who are suffering housing instability and connect them with the resources that are within our community. We'd like to get an accurate data for our population into homelessness and capture the demographic and also connect people with resources, but it's for anybody who's at risk of experiencing housing instability.

Host:  If you can mention the places and times that you'll be at January 30, and if we have the opportunity we'll repeat it later. What are they?

Guest:  Sure, so in Wyoming County will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Warsaw Food Pantry which is located in the United Church of Warsaw, it's 22 South Main Street. And then Orleans County will be from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will be at the Hoag Library and that's 134 South Main Street located in Albion. And Genesee County will be the last event and it’s at the Salvation Army, 529 East Main Street, located in Batavia, and from there it will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Host:  And I believe hot meals will be provided care of one of the partners if you could tell us about that?

Guest:  Yes, HAWNY, which is the Homeless Alliance of Western New York is giving us the backing to provide a free hot meal for those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing housing instability.

Host:  Well, that's an event sounds like you can't beat with a stick as they say. I understand that you'll be offering tables to certain other community organizations that people might find would benefit them if you could mention some of them?

Guest:  Yeah, so at this event we'll have some tabling going on so that people can access resources. So we'll have Ace Employment is going to be there, obviously, our Independent Living people will be there, mental health, Catholic Charities, Pathstone, neighborhood legal services and also like managed healthcare, so Fidelis and BlueCross BlueShield. So, if somebody is in need of like Medicaid, they can come down and talk to those resources.

Host:  And although this will serve as an introduction to people with those issues, I imagine this could result in them becoming longer term consumers of services at ILGR.

Guest:  Yes, definitely.

Host:  And you have a full staff of people with a variety of expertise that can certainly be of help to them. While we have time if you could, recap those locations and times again all on January 30?

Guest:  Yes definitely. Wyoming County is from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Warsaw Food Pantry, 22 South Main Street, in Warsaw. Orleans is from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and that'll be at Hoke library, 134 South Main Street in Albion. Genesee County will be at the Salvation Army from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. located at 529 East Main Street in Batavia.

Host:  And I'm sure people will have some questions concerning this event, how can they contact you?

Guest:  They can contact me at 585-815-8501, my extension is 417 or feel free to email me at amesita@wnyil.org, that's w-n-y-i-l.org

Host:   And if you could please spell the amesita for people that aren't sure?

Guest:  Sure it's a-m-e-s-i-t-a.

Host:  That sounds like a really exciting opportunity for people that have a lot of concerns that might make them wonder how things are going to continue to them to keep their lives together and it's wonderful that ILGR is taking the lead on getting this done. Thanks so much for being with us Amber.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Amber Mesita, Program Specialist for the Homeless Alliance of Western New York at ILGR, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.