July 2024 Point-in-Time Homeless Count

8/28/24 - Staff and volunteers from local homeless shelters and community organizations recently concluded a semi-annual count of homeless individuals in Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson counties.

The most recent count, conducted July 24th through 31st, found a total of 104 unhoused individuals. Jackson and Eau Claire counties both doubled their numbers from the last count in January 2024 and saw a significant increase in the number of homeless households with children.

The four-county region was canvased starting at 11 pm on July 24th, with volunteers offering access to immediate services, providing information about local programs, and administering a survey developed by the State of Wisconsin Continuum of Care. Everyone included in the final numbers provided a name and/or initials, date of birth, demographic data, and information about recent health and living conditions. These numbers do not include an additional 26 individuals who were observed but did not provide enough information to be counted.

Known nationally as the Point-In-Time count, the activity is intended to provide a statistically reliable, unduplicated count of people experiencing homelessness during a designated period twice each year. The data collected during the count is included in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) that is provided to the U.S. Congress. Homeless information is also reported to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care.

This year's count was conducted by dozens of community members and representatives from the ADRC of Eau Claire County, ADRC of Jackson County, Black River Falls School District, Bolton Refuge House, Catholic Charities, The Center for Veterans Issues, Children's Wisconsin, City of Eau Claire, The Community Table, U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, Hope Gospel Mission, Ho-Chunk Nation, Eau Claire County DHS, Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley, Great Rivers 211, local law enforcement, Western Dairyland EOC and the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care.

The next Point-in-Time count is scheduled for January 22, 2025. Anyone interested in participating may contact Western Dairyland EOC at 715-836-7511 or info@wdeoc.org.

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