A still from the documentary "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness." (Submitted image)

An upcoming Eau Claire screening of the documentary Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness, is intended to prompt conversation and action to serve unhoused people in the Chippewa Valley.

A showing of the film – followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session about the issues it raises — will be at 6pm Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the RCU Theatre at the Pablo Center at the Confluence in downtown Eau Claire. Doors will open at 5:30pm. While the screening will be free, attendees are asked to RSVP through the ticketing platform at pablocenter.org.

Beyond the Bridge focuses on innovative efforts to address homelessness which have been implemented nationwide, including in the Milwaukee. Among those featured in the film are James Mathy, housing administrator in Milwaukee County, who helped implement a comprehensive “Housing First” model there.

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One objective is to get many different entities that work within the homelessness and housing insecure space to focus on one of the most up-to-date pieces of content concerning homelessness.

ASTRI GRACEHEART

home for good

Mathy will be part of a panel discussion following the screening, which will also include Don Sawyer, who co-produced the film; Rod Jones, a UW-Eau Claire professor and Eau Claire City Council member; and Alisa Diaz of C.C. We Adapt, who experienced homelessness as a UWEC student. The discussion will be moderated by Catherine Emmanuelle, director of the university’s Center for Racial and Restorative Justice.

Astri Graceheart, program director for Home For Good, a housing nonprofit serving Eau Claire, said the effort to bring the film to Eau Claire was two-pronged.

“One objective is to get many different entities that work within the homelessness and housing insecure space to focus on one of the most up-to-date pieces of content concerning homelessness,” she said. “Two, another objective is to spread awareness to the Eau Claire public about a high fidelity, comprehensive approach to Housing First.” The Housing First model prioritizes getting homeless individuals into housing before requiring them to enter drug treatment, mental health counseling, or other programs first.

“This film is honest, humanizing, energizing and inspiring – it does not shy away from uncomfortable truths around this issue, but the message is truly an empowering and unifying one: We can only do this together – and together, we CAN do this,” Graceheart said.

Learn more about the event and RSVP for a free ticket online at pablocenter.org/events/calendar.