Volunteers help conduct bi-annual, point-in-time homeless count

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - A critical effort to understand homelessness is underway in our region.

Staff and volunteers began the bi-annual, point-in-time homeless count late Wednesday night. The next count is in July.

They will canvas Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau, and Jackson counties. This overnight snapshot provides vital data for federal reports and helps identify community needs.

Anna Cardarella, CEO of Western Wisconsin Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council says they have seen an increase in homelessness in Eau Claire in the last 7 years.

“We look at why is that? What are the gaps? One of the gaps we found was daytime services for folks, which is part of the reason why we established the One Better Way campaign and then worked with Hope Gospel Mission to establish a permanent day resource center,” Cardarella said.

Cardarella adds that numbers are consistently higher in the summer months than in the winter. She says many stay in overnight shelters, or at a family or friends house when it’s really cold.

Official numbers will be verified in early March.