BELLINGHAM - Organizers of a day of outreach to homeless people said the event was a success at its new location.

At a meeting Thursday, Aug. 2, of the Whatcom County Coalition to End Homelessness, organizers agreed the event, called Project Homeless Connect, should be held again under one roof at Bellingham High School next year.

In past years, different services, including medical exams, haircuts, legal services and free lunches, were offered at several locations downtown.

Volunteers on July 27 signed in 460 people at Project Homeless Connect. The number of people at the event who in fact were homeless hadn't been tabulated, but in past years about 20 percent of people accepting services were not homeless, said Greg Winter, director of the Whatcom Homeless Service Center.

The event ran with the help of 230 volunteers, fewer than in previous years, said Dan Hammill, the volunteer program director for Whatcom Volunteer Center.

Reach RALPH SCHWARTZ at ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2261.