Those down on luck get chance to start over
SEATTLE -- The economy has forced more and more people to sleep on the streets. Wednesday, many of those people came to Qwest Field for a chance to start over.
Hundreds of volunteers were on hand as part of United Way's Community Resource Excahnge to give them the help they needed to get back on their feet. Among the services being offered -- dental work, pedicures, haircuts, job training -- even legal help.
"It's really working to meet people's immediate needs, housing needs, helping people get a hot meal," said Vince Matulionis, Director of Ending Homelessness at the United Way.
Rick Mascarenas says the shelter where he stays is full every night, and they're forced to turn people away. Today at Qwest Field, his main concern was finding work. He has a wife and three kids, but no job to support them.
Here, he can get job training, although he's already a skilled mason. He just needs a job, and the economy's making it nearly impossible for him to find one.
"It's been kinda hard because there's a lot of people that are unemployed so you've gotta compete with a lot of other people too," he said.
Even though he won't leave here with a job, he says he'll leave here one step closer to life off the streets.
"Any little help is appreciated," he said. "It's a blessing and basically just to go in the right direction."
The event runs until 2 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, check out www.uwkc.org
Hundreds of volunteers were on hand as part of United Way's Community Resource Excahnge to give them the help they needed to get back on their feet. Among the services being offered -- dental work, pedicures, haircuts, job training -- even legal help.
"It's really working to meet people's immediate needs, housing needs, helping people get a hot meal," said Vince Matulionis, Director of Ending Homelessness at the United Way.
Rick Mascarenas says the shelter where he stays is full every night, and they're forced to turn people away. Today at Qwest Field, his main concern was finding work. He has a wife and three kids, but no job to support them.
Here, he can get job training, although he's already a skilled mason. He just needs a job, and the economy's making it nearly impossible for him to find one.
"It's been kinda hard because there's a lot of people that are unemployed so you've gotta compete with a lot of other people too," he said.
Even though he won't leave here with a job, he says he'll leave here one step closer to life off the streets.
"Any little help is appreciated," he said. "It's a blessing and basically just to go in the right direction."
The event runs until 2 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, check out www.uwkc.org