AVONDALE, Ariz. (Sept 24, 2025): Individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness in and around Avondale will connect with a range of services and resources during Project Connect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 25th at Avondale Baptist Church at 1001 N. Central Avenue in Avondale.
The partnership among the city of Avondale, the church, and the nonprofit that produces Project Connect is the longest-running in the event’s history in the Valley
Project Connect is a one-day pop-up services event offering connections to a wide range of social service organizations working to prevent and end homelessness in Maricopa County. Approximately 150 guests and 75 volunteers are expected at the event organized by Keys to Change, in collaboration with many of the nonprofit and government partners on the 13-acre Key Campus near downtown Phoenix.
Guests will have the opportunity to connect with professionals offering shelter assistance, mental health support, state benefits, job search guidance and preparation, as well as support for replacing vital records and identification. Additionally, guests will have access to meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, and heat relief.
Thurs Sept 25, 2025 8:00am – 3:00pm
Avondale Baptist Church – 1001 N. Central Avenue, Avondale, AZ 85323
- Setup begins at 6:00am
- Bike raffles throughout the day
- Clothing, hygiene giveaways
- Community volunteers assisting neighbors experiencing homelessness (subject to media consent)
- Avondale City officials touring event; mayor to visit at 8:00am kickoff
- Dozens of nonprofits collaborating on outreach and service delivery
- Interviews available with Keys to Change event producers
Quote from Amy Schwabenlender, CEO Keys to Change: “Homeless outreach is all about meeting people where they are. Keys to Change does this in a number of ways. While Key Campus in downtown Phoenix serves as a local hub for homeless solutions in a high-density neighborhood, Project Connect events provide the opportunity to ‘take the Campus on the road,’ to engage with people in need across the valley and throughout Maricopa County. Our mission is to end homelessness through the power of collaboration. It all starts with human connection.”
Quote from Avondale Mayor, Mayor Mike Pineda: “Avondale succeeds when we come together to solve problems in real time. By bringing our regional partners to one place at the same time, Project Connect turns collaboration into same-day results, where people can obtain IDs, health care, benefits, and a direct path to housing. That is how we keep any experience of homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring while building a safe, connected, thriving community. Thank you to Keys to Change, Avondale Baptist Church, and every volunteer showing what collaboration looks like in Avondale.”
- Agua Fria Food & Clothing Bank
- Animals and Humans in Disaster
- Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Arizona Pet Project
- Basic Mission
- Central Arizona Shelter Services
- Chicanos Por la Causa / Corazon
- Circle the City
- Community Bridges Inc PATH Program
- Homeless ID Project
- Intensive Treatment Systems
- Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County
- Mercy Care Health Plan
- Native American Connections
- Phoenix Rescue Mission
- Resilient Health Arizona
- St. Vincent de Paul
- US Vets Phoenix
- US Veteran Initiative
- VEN Centers (Arizona Liver Health)
and Keys to Change.
For more information about Keys to Change, visit www.keystochangeaz.org
+++
Media Contacts:
Kim Beaudoin
Marketing and Communications Manager
Keys to Change
602-282-0849
kbeaudoin@keystochangeaz.org
