Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council (WDEOC) is initiating a capital campaign to purchase and renovate a building to co-locate WDEOC's Housing and Family Services programs and a Day Resource Center (DRC) for the unhoused. This facility will meet a critical need by providing resources and housing services at one easily accessible location for people experiencing homelessness. The goal of the capital campaign is to raise $5.725M.
The city of Eau Claire is supporting the project with a contribution of $500,000. Including this commitment, the project has already received nearly $1.4M in gifts and verbal commitments towards the project at this early stage.
The new DRC will provide essential services for persons experiencing homeless, including trained counselors for mental health and addiction recovery, showers, and laundry facilities. It will also house WDEOC’s housing programs and provide space for various agencies to offer free on-site services, including medical services and food providers.
Hope Gospel Mission, a faith-based nonprofit with long-standing experience serving people experiencing homelessness will provide programming for the Day Resource Center. HGM will make its day shelter services inclusive and low-barrier, valuing equity, diversity, and inclusion of all people needing services without discrimination. Any faith-based programming would be offered but not required.
The campaign to develop a new DRC will address key barriers to improving the conditions for those in the Eau Claire area experiencing or on the verge of homelessness while improving the business and recreation climate. Currently, there is no permanent space for the unhoused to gather that does not place a burden on the public spaces of Eau Claire. Additionally, there is no space for the unhoused to find protection from the elements seven days a week, 12 months a year. Finally, there is no coordinated, collaborative, and case-managed access to the resources for this population to achieve wellness, employment, and housing security. This center is an opportunity to address all three of these needs in one project.
WDEOC has found an existing building in an ideal location for WDEOC’s programming the proposed Housing Offices and the DRC Day Resource Center to be purchased in the spring. The location benefits both the unhoused population and the community, as it is within easy walking distance of needed services and organizations, outside the Barstow Business District, close to city bus lines, large enough to accommodate all WDEOC’s and HGM’s services, requires relatively minor upgrades, and is in a safe location.
WDEOC provides dozens of diverse and highly effective programs to promote economic independence, including childcare programs, business development, the Fresh Start Program for young adults, the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Head Start, weatherization and energy assistance, and programs to address homelessness. WDEOC is the largest nonprofit organization operating in western Wisconsin. Given its client base, the agency receives little to no payment for services, relying almost exclusively on contributions from grant organizations including state and federal support.
WDEOC CEO, Anna L. Cardarella, shares, “WDEOC has developed dozens of diverse programs to promote economic independence and self-reliance. This project to will improve WDEOC’s ability to serve the region's people. For nearly 60 years, WDEOC has lived by the motto, ‘help for today, hope for tomorrow,’ and this project is all about hope.”
Crescendo Fundraising Professionals, LLC, is thrilled to manage the campaign. Our firm conducted a study that outlined fundraising strategies, identified leadership potential, cultivated prospective contributors and volunteers, and allowed area residents to voice their opinions.
If you’d like to learn more about how Crescendo Fundraising Professionals can support your nonprofit organization or municipality, feel free to reach out to us at ellen@crescendollp.com or 507-459-1989. Or, visit our website, crescendoconsultingllp.com.
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