Eau Claire

Community Resource Center

Western Dairyland EOC and Hope Gospel Mission are planning to open a Community Resource Center (commonly referred to as a "day resource center") in downtown Eau Claire to bring together a variety of services to assist unhoused and housing insecure members of the community.

• The building would provide comprehensive homeless services and year-round daytime shelter from extreme weather. These services would be provided by Hope Gospel Mission in a modern facility with expanded hours. Bathrooms, showers, storage areas and congregate meeting spaces will be available to anyone in need.
• The building will include expanded offices for homeless programs operated by Western Dairyland EOC: Housing First, Rapid Rehousing, Homeless Prevention, Homeless Assistance Program for Youth, Family Shelters, and Housing Stability.
• Additional space will be available to local businesses and community organizations serving the homeless community.

Western Dairyland EOC, the city of Eau Claire, Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire, and private donors have committed $850,000 toward a proposed capital campaign if it proceeds. The city’s financial commitment represents approximately 8% of the total project and will come from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

The project is in the preliminary stages and no location has been selected. A campaign readiness study is underway to determine if the project will proceed, and a final decision is expected in August of this year. At that point, Western Dairyland and Hope Gospel Mission will make a decision about starting a fundraising campaign.

Community Meeting

Tuesday, June 18
5:30 to 6:45 pm
Riverview Room (third floor) of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library

Staff from Western Dairyland EOC and Hope Gospel Mission provided an update on the preliminary plans to open a Community Resource Center (commonly referred to as a "day resource center") in downtown Eau Claire. Staff from the City of Eau Claire provided information about city-owned properties which may be available for the project. The meeting was open to the public and time was available for comments and questions. Read a recap of the meeting from Volume One.

Eau Claire Downtown Business Owner Feedback

After the meeting on June 18, downtown business owners provided comments about the project and potential city-owned locations through an online survey. This survey is now closed. The information collected in the survey is confidential between the parties and shall not be disclosed to anybody else. The results will only be shared with the parties on a collective basis and the submissions will remain anonymous.

Campaign Readiness Study

Planning has begun to identify philanthropic interest and capacity, volunteer leadership, the area's financial environment, and the importance community residents place on the facility. A community survey was available from June 25 through July 20.

When this study is completed in August, Western Dairyland and Hope Gospel Mission will make a decision about the future of this project and a potential fundraising campaign. Read the Mini Case Executive Summary, the Committee Job Descriptions and the Gift Table for additional information.

8/26/24 Update

Results from the Campaign Readiness Study were released to the WDEOC board of directors on August 21st. Consultants from Crescendo Fundraising Professionals formed a study committee comprised of community members, conducted 44 one-on-one interviews and two focus groups, and solicited information from the general public via an online survey.

It was determined that enough philanthropic support exists to raise $4.5 to $5 million dollars. This amount should be enough to purchase and renovate a building, and also fund operations for three years. As a result, WDEOC will focus on finding an existing building in downtown Eau Claire for the Community Resource Center.

Before a capital campaign proceeds, WDEOC must:

• secure a location in downtown Eau Claire
• draft a pre-campaign case statement
• draft supporting documents detailing the partnership agreement between WDEOC and Hope Gospel Mission