Community Haven House Day Resource Center

By Dr. Susan Wolfgram, Co-Chair of JONAH’s Affordable Housing Task Force

It always seems impossible until it’s done

~Nelson Mandela

At our core, we in JONAH believe in the infinite dignity and worth of every human life. We are called to respond to big systemic issues like poverty, environment, immigration, health, transit, criminal justice reform, and specific to this calling, homelessness. Approximately five years ago, when resources and shelter were disappearing from our community for our unhoused neighbors, our JONAH Affordable Housing Task Force made a decision to provide leadership in moving forward an initiative for a Day Resource Center (DRC). A DRC would provide the missing piece on the spectrum from day and evening shelter to the ultimate goal of housing for all. We believe that housing is a human right. We knew from listening to those impacted that what was needed was a “one stop shop” of resources to restore lives as well as a safe and dignified space to just rest. 

We played the “long game” in holding together a broad community stakeholder group of committed advocates, persons with lived experience, business and health system leaders, as well as city and county officials, step by step, over time, until Western Dairyland and Hope Gospel Mission stepped up to partner to make this systemic change happen. You can find comprehensive information and videos on the Western Dairyland website: https://www.onebetterway.org/

THE COMMUNITY HAVEN HOUSE DAY RESOURCE CENTER 

DOORS OPEN ON DECEMBER 29TH!

LOCATION: 1 Better Way, Eau Claire

HOURS: 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Sunday

Every day, our unhoused neighbors, many with significant disabilities, struggle to meet basic needs, “traveling up one hill and down another” to access resources. The DRC will offer a safe, welcoming space where people can access showers, laundry, and vital support services in one location that provide a foundation to stability. From the website: 

  • The building will provide year-round daytime shelter (7 days per week, 365 days per year). Bathrooms, showers, storage areas, and congregate meeting spaces will be available to anyone in need. These services, provided by Hope Gospel Mission, will replace and expand upon those offered by the current Community Haven House at 416 Washington Street, which does not have funding beyond 2025.
  • The building will include expanded offices for programs operated by Western Dairyland (WDEOC): Housing First, Rapid Rehousing, Homeless Prevention, Homeless Assistance Program for Youth, Family Shelters, Housing Stability, and Fresh Start. These programs will move from their current location at 418 Wisconsin Street in downtown Eau Claire.
  • Additional space will be available to local businesses and organizations serving the homeless community. The goal is to provide immediate relief, then connect our clients with the resources they need to succeed.

It will take the generosity of many compassionate individuals and organizations to make this vision a reality. Your investment will help people in our community get more than just clean clothes and relief from the elements – it will provide them with hope and a fresh start.

If you would like to be a part of this effort, see this link: https://www.onebetterway.org/donate

This move will allow us to help so many more neighbors in need, offering stability and compassion when it’s needed most. Many of us are just one financial emergency away from losing “home”. There but by the grace of the unknown, go I.

We are a community that knows what it cares about.