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January 2025 Point-in-Time Count Results

February 25, 2025

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 January 22nd through 29th, found a total of 34 unsheltered individuals. This was a significant decrease from the count in July 2024 and more in line with numbers found in 2022 and 2023. According to staff at Western Dairyland, colder weather may have contributed to the lower number.

These numbers do not include an additional 16 individuals who were observed but did not provide enough information to be counted. Also excluded from the total are 175 individuals who stayed in local homeless shelters and transitional units on the night of January 22nd.

The four-county region was canvased starting at 11 pm on January 22nd, 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. 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 79 community members and representatives from 28 organizations, including:

• Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council
• Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez and staff
• Bolton Refuge House
• Catholic Charities
• Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley
• United Cerebral Palsy of West Central WI
• Hope Gospel Mission
• Eau Claire Human Services and ADRC
• Jackson County Human Services and ADRC
• Ho-Chunk Nation
• Law enforcement from Eau Claire, Jackson and Buffalo Counties
• Eau Claire City Council
• Salvation Army
• Eau Claire Fire Department
• Eau Claire Tenant Landlord Resource Center
• Department of Veteran’s Affairs
• Center for Veteran’s Issues
• Eau Claire Health Department/Medical Reserves
• Great Rivers 211
• Wisconsin Balance of State
• The Community Table
• Wisconsin Interagency Council on Homelessness
• Pleasant Valley Youth Ranch
• Citizen Action of Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin-River Falls
• University of Wisconsin-Stout