DOWNTOWN PROPOSAL. This city parking lot in the 300 block of South Farwell Street is being considered as the site for a day center for the city’s unhoused population. The building housing Offbeats Violin & Guitar Studio is at left, with City Hall at far left.

A community resource center to meet the needs of Eau Claire’s growing homeless population could be built in downtown Eau Claire if a recently announced public-private partnership – and a $6 million fundraising campaign – reach fruition.

In addition to funding, however, the effort will have to clear bureaucratic hurdles, and is being proposed amid growing concerns about homelessness in the neighborhood from some downtown business owners and residents.

In late April, a coalition of local nonprofits that offer services to the community’s unhoused population announced that they have been collaborating on a plan for a community resource center, which would be both a daytime shelter and a site for service providers. The nonprofit agencies include Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, Community Haven House, and Hope Gospel Mission. The latter group estimates about 3,000 individuals – nearly half of them children – are living without homes in western Wisconsin.

“It became abundantly clear during COVID that we need to better address the needs of these individuals and their children,” said Anna Cardarella, CEO/President of Western Dairyland. “We believe this plan offers the innovation and collaboration needed to support a daytime center that will lessen the burden on other municipal facilities.”

”

It became abundantly clear during COVID that we need to better address the needs of these individuals and their children.

ANNA CARDARELLA

CEO/PRESIDENT, WESTERN DAIRYLAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL

The groups estimate the project will cost about $6 million, including $5 million to build the facility and $1 million to fund its operations for three years. According to a media release, “The Day Resource Center would serve not only as a shelter but as a site where unhoused residents would be linked to needed services. (Western Dairyland) would own the building, and the agency’s housing services staff would be located in the new facility. The staff of other organizations that assist unhoused people would also be at the site, interacting directly with clients to link them to services.” Hope Gospel Mission, which already operations long-term shelters for men and women, would operate the day resource center.

A homeless couple worked with a career planner on the FSET program (FoodShare Employment and Training) at the Eau Claire County Job Center in this 2021 file photo. The City of Eau Claire and several nonprofit organizations are considering building a center in downtown Eau Claire that would be a combined day shelter and resource center for the city's homeless population. (Photo by Andrea Paulseth)

“Separate from our current long-term solution, a day resource center will be a fantastic opportunity to help people who may not need long-term recovery, but simple support in navigating through their current circumstances,” said Chris Hedlund, program director for Hope Gospel Mission. “This is more than a safe shelter; this project brings many services together so various agencies can collaborate to serve our unhoused neighbors without operating out of individual silos."

While the nonprofits’ announcement stated that the facility’s location was “undetermined,” the following day the City of Eau Claire identified the most likely site: a city-owned parking lot at the northeast corner of South Farwell and Main streets. The lot is next to an office building at 307 S. Farwell St., which houses Offbeats Violin & Guitar Studio and several other small businesses.

The city cited the lot’s central location in downtown and its proximity to public transportation and service providers. In a media release, it noted a number of steps were necessary for the facility to be built, including the City Council declaring the lot as excess land; a development agreement with the Western Dairyland; and the necessary fundraising.

Planning is already underway for a capital campaign, and among the city, Western Dairyland, Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire, and a private donor, $850,000 has already been committed toward the project. Crescendo Fundraising Professionals – which has successfully helped with campaigns for the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, the Irvine Park Zoo, Hope Village, and more – will conduct a campaign feasibility study.

Beginning June 1, an online survey – which will be available via the websites of the city, Western Dairyland, and Hope Gospel Mission – will be available.

“We look forward to completing the study that will outline the capacity for a successful capital campaign to bring the project to life,” said Billie Hufford, project management coordinator for the city’s Planning and Housing Department.

The rising number of people in the Chippewa Valley without homes has become more visible in recent years, with people sleeping in parks, doorways, alleys, and other locations throughout downtown Eau Claire. 

At a recent City Council meeting, Rose Johnson – who owns Offbeats and the building that houses it – said having the proposed facility next door isn’t compatible with her business.

“We have direct experience with homeless use of my property,” she said. “The incidents are from several times a week to several times a day, and range from camping in the bathrooms where children need to go, to camping in our back stairwell outside and doing drugs there, to breaking into our suites.”

Johnson stressed the need to address the problem of homelessness in a way that preserves everyone’s safety. “I’m willing to be part of the solution, but this solution needs to be good sense for all of us,” she told the council. “Please consider whether this is the way we want to present the entrance corridor to our great downtown.”