Community Haven House Offers a Warm Place to Those in Need
downtown day shelter seeks donations to expand services, hours
Kelly Carlson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Struggling to gain ground after COVID-19 wiped out connections for shelter, space, and opportunity, the Chippewa Valley’s unhoused population continues to grow. Homelessness is an issue never easily solved or eradicated, and amid the pandemic organizations typically offering support endured a loss of funding or were closed.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, Eau Claire’s homeless population was relocated,” said Autumn Metoxen, assistant coordinator at Community Haven House. While unhoused people went to Eau Claire’s Sojourner House shelter during the night, there was no indoor space for them to spend the day.
With our Wisconsin weather ranging from freezing rain and feet of snow to scorching sun and heat in the summer, exposure to the elements creates bleak circumstances fast. “According to the National Institutes of Health, exposure to harsh outdoor conditions leads to increased medical problems and premature deaths by an average of 20 years,” Community Haven House wrote in a media release.
In 2021, a community task force formed to help. An emergency warming center – now called Community Haven House – initially opened for weekends and has now expanded to operate seven days a week.
“After a months-long search for a building to use as a shelter, a warming center at 502 S. Farwell St. opened on Dec. 24, 2021,” Metoxen said. “Catholic Charities stepped up to serve as fiscal agent for the warming center.”
Funded by the City of Eau Claire, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds via Eau Claire County, and Catholic Charities, CHH began hiring staff to ensure hours of operation while still relying heavily on volunteers.
“The Community Haven House is necessary to provide a daytime respite for homeless people from the life-threatening weather that can occur in Eau Claire,” Metoxen stated. “It also serves as a place where homeless people can find a sense of belonging along with assistance with some of their daily needs.”
CHH is located in former church building adjacent to – and owned by – Christ Church Cathedral. More than a shelter, CHH provides access to Foodshare services, workforce resources, training and harm reduction tools, and hygienic upkeep including haircuts, when needed. “Ideally, the site could be a place where agencies that serve homeless residents could do outreach work to link people to the services they need,” Metoxen emphasized. “Our future goals would be to be open for hours that Sojourner House is not, which would be 8am-7pm.”
However, more funding is required to achieve this goal.
“CHH organizers are very thankful to the city and county for funding they have allocated to the shelter, but we need additional funding to hire more staff and volunteers to be open for additional hours.”
Autumn Metoxen
community haven house assistant coordinator
Community Haven House is hosting an open home from 4-6pm on Wednesday, Jan. 18, during which visitors will receive a tour of the facilities; will have an opportunity to talk with staff, volunteers, and organizers; and will enjoy food catered by Tony Draganowski, owner of Bijou Bistro in Eau Claire.
Local government leaders, the media, and community organizers are invited to the event in hopes of spreading awareness and to create connections towards helping the cause. “CHH organizers are very thankful to the city and county for funding they have allocated to the shelter,” Metoxen said. “But we need additional funding to hire more staff and volunteers to be open for additional hours.”
While organizers hope to create a permanent resource center for unhoused people by November 2025, in the meantime CHH is providing crucial support for the community members who most need it.
If you are interested in volunteering, becoming a staff member, or learning more, visit cclse.org/eau-claire-lead-staff. If you would like to support CHH, donations are appreciated and can be made at cclse.org/donatecc.
