Eau Claire Homeless Shelter May Need to Reduce Services

An Eau Claire homeless shelter may be forced to reduce the services it currently offers as it faces a difficult funding shortfall.

The Sojourner House in Eau Claire is run by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse. In a press release on Wednesday, the organization announced potential cuts to service amid declining funding and a shortage of volunteers.

Officials with the organization say they’re considering reducing the shelter’s operations to just six months during the winter season. The Sojourner House is currently open year-round, and officials still expressed concerns that a reduction in service would leave unhoused individuals with nowhere to go during the summer heat.

Organization officials also say they’ve entered into discussions with the City, County, and Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce on potential solutions to avoid that reduction in service. They plan to share an update on those efforts in the coming weeks.

The region has seen a dramatic increase in the number of identified unhoused individuals over the last couple of years. While the most recent Point in Time count saw a decrease from last year, officials say the frigid weather likely contributed to the lower total as people staying in homeless shelters already when the count began were not included. Last year’s count identified 104 unhoused individuals.

A potential reduction in service would place additional strain on the city’s efforts to help the unhoused population. In December, the Chamber of Commerce, Department of Human Services, and Health Department announced a new task force aimed at solving persistent housing issues. The city also recently began a new street ambassador program aimed at connecting unhoused individuals with the resources they need.