Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Hands-on care: Homeless receive haircuts, food, help at community event

Annual event tries to help, account for the homeless population

Some people got their feet washed. Some had blood tests, or applied for classes, or sought help for legal issues. Some just enjoyed a hot meal.

“This is the first real meal I’ve eaten eaten in over a month. I don’t get hot food unless I go to the warming shelter,” Cary Shilts said.

The Juneau Coalition of Housing and Homelessness hosted more than 200 Juneau residents experiencing homelessness at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Wednesday.

“It’s important for the community to know what’s happening to its residents,” said Scott Ciambor, chief housing officer for the City and Borough of Juneau, who helped out at the event, called Homeless Connect. “This is my ninth one. I’ve been involved every year.”

People experiencing homelessness entered the JACC and registered via the point-in-time count, an annual national count to assess the current state of homelessness in the United States. Ciambor estimated between 220 and 250 people experiencing homelessness participated, roughly the same number as years past.

Guests stand in line for a hot lunch at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Guests stand in line for a hot lunch at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

“It’s an important event. People get helped immediately; decision-makers at the local, state and federal levels get to look at the point-in-time data,” Ciambor said. “It’s a little more complicated than just counting the people that show up today.”

Lia Sickoria, a registered nurse at Bartlett Regional Hospital, cleans a guest’s feet at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Lia Sickoria, a registered nurse at Bartlett Regional Hospital, cleans a guest’s feet at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Various groups set up inside the JACC provided specific assistance to those who asked for it, and everyone received food. Groups provided assistance in a variety of forms, including legal and medical and benefits assistance, including specifics like HIV/AIDS testing, haircuts and dealing with foot problems such as infections or toenail issues.

Shilts, who was participating in the event with his dog, was concerned about a host of health issues, and generally worried about the future.

“I don’t know how all this is going to work,” Shilts said of how to receive medical care. He added that he relies on his dog for support and that his dog has saved his life.

“This dog has been with me for 14 years, and I’m not giving him up,” he said.

Cary Shilts, a guest, poses with his dog at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Cary Shilts, a guest, poses with his dog at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Special emphasis was spent on bringing in the under-25 population of people experiencing homelessness. The JCHH offered coupons for free pizza to unaccompanied people under 25.

Genevieve Schmidt, an AmeriCorps servicemember working with the Learning Connection, said that they’d had a pretty busy morning, with a lot of interest in signing up for the classes offered for adults.

“We’ve had a lot of folks signing up for classes,” Schmidt said. “We’ve filled up the entire sheet.”

Jamiann Hasselquist, who cut hair at the event, said that this is her fourth year volunteering, and that the same could be said for most of the other volunteer hair dressers.

“It’s been good listening to people’s stories and helping them on their healing journeys,” Hasselquist said.

Steve Lythgoe, who received a trim from Hasselquist, said that he had gotten a lot done at the JACC that morning.

“I want people to know that this really helps,” Lythgoe said. “It’s good that they get this going, especially this time of winter.”

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Steven Lythgoe gets his hair cut by Jamiann Hasselquist at the Zach Gordon Youth Center during the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event, Jan. 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757.621.1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

A volunteer serves food to a guest at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

A volunteer serves food to a guest at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Volunteers from Bartlett Regional Hospital and the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium help with medical issues and vaccinations at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Volunteers from Bartlett Regional Hospital and the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium help with medical issues and vaccinations at the Juneau Coalition for Housing and Homelessness’ 9th annual Homeless Connect event at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center Wednesday. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of June 15

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

A ferry worker ties up the Hubbard on Sunday, April 21, 2024, as it docks in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney / Chilkat Valley News)
Weekend ferry cancellation complicates travel for bike relay, solstice

A ferry cancellation will affect travel plans for some participants of the… Continue reading

Chris Storey shows where he found an incapacitated man in an embankment along Glacier Highway in Lemon Creek during the early morning hours of Monday, June 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Man who collapses near roadside rescued in early morning hours by passerby

Chris Storey, a former adult care worker who was homeless until April, assists man in distress.

Families write messages in chalk outside the governor's mansion on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Chalking up education funding outrage on the sidewalk at the governor’s mansion

Families protest Dunleavy’s vetoes to education funding with colorful pictures and words.

Boats at Douglas Harbor under mostly clear skies on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
80°F in Juneau will trigger first-ever National Weather Service heat advisories

Officials say sun’s angle in Alaska makes temperatures feel higher compared to other states.

Christina Love leads the audience in raising their fist, symbolizing telling the truth despite fear on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Juneau joins nation in ‘No Kings’ protest

More than 1,000 protestors join millions nationwide opposing Trump as he presides over military parade.

A row of tents on Teal Street across the street from the Glory Hall on the morning of Saturday, May 14, 2025. Occupants of the tents received a 48-hour vacate notice from the Juneau Police Department on Friday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Large homeless encampment on Teal Street gets JPD vacate notice; where will occupants go next?

People who keep moving from place to place under “dispersed camping” policy unsure where they’ll go.

Volunteers look for trash on the Jordan Avenue sidewalk at JAMHI’s Community Litter Pickup event on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
JAMHI hosts community cleanup to kick off 40th anniversary celebration

Local addiction and mental health treatment organization plans summer of events and give-back days.

Most Read