Whether it was a haircut, a hot lunch or just a hug, the services offered to Perth's homeless in the city yesterday ensured hundreds of WA's most disadvantaged people found plenty of reasons to smile.

From 9am to 3pm, more than 60 service organisations and 150 volunteers poured their energy and resources into pampering, feeding and providing practical support to people ranging from children to the elderly - in some cases, three generations of the same family - at Homeless Connect, a partnership between the City of Perth and Volunteering WA.

Attendees were treated to meals and services ranging from reflexology, makeovers and hot showers to medical checks.

Legal advice, counselling, employment, accommodation and financial advice were available, along with donated toiletries, food, blankets, toys, books and clothes.

People could also select and wrap Christmas presents for their family or send cards to distant loved ones, while some were photographed for the first time in years and given the image as a keepsake.

Volunteers ranged from university students to professionals, who paired up with homeless people to assist them in any way they could. Proving that sometimes it's the simple things that count, those handing out hugs were inundated all day.

Bill, 39, who has been homeless for 16 years, said he was happy there was an event to help street people like him.

"There's a lot of homeless people out there and most people just walk past and try to look the other way," he said.

Volunteering WA chief executive Mara Basanovic said it was important that attendees left feeling reconnected to the community and that agencies all worked together to support them.

"Everybody is struggling for funding in the not-for-profit area … here, we've shown that it's about sharing resources and expertise," she said.