Meals, haircuts provided in effort to count the homeless

July 26--People lined up Wednesday near Banbury Place as the smell of grilled chicken floated around them in the parking lot.

A clown wandered among the folding tables where people sat and ate as he twisted colored balloons into birds, dogs and swords for children outside Positive Avenues east of downtown Eau Claire. Hair clippers buzzed as those finished with their meal sat down for a quick haircut.

Before people could eat, though, they had to fill out a quick survey asking for their name and age, among other questions. It also asked if they had a place to sleep Wednesday night.

Kristi Malec, a lead staff member at Sojourner House, an overnight shelter, said the survey and the dinner were part of an effort Wednesday night to count the number of homeless people in Eau Claire County. She said the results are important because they raise awareness about the issue.

"Not everyone knows that we have this growing problem in Eau Claire ... more and more people sleeping on the street," she said. "There's a real problem here."

'There is a need'

By about halfway through the event, more than 60 people had filled out surveys; of those, at least eight people didn't know where they were going to spend Wednesday night. Others had plans to stay with friends or in an area shelter. After the dinner volunteers headed out for a street count conducted by the Eau Claire Continuum of Care, which Malec expected would last until at least 10 p.m.

Karen Smith, a homeless case manager at Western Dairyland Community Action Agency -- which assists disadvantaged residents -- said area shelters are full, turning people away and putting them on waiting lists.

"We know that the services we provide are very important," Smith said. "But we also know that maybe we need more services provided to meet the needs in our community."

Wednesday's count is part of a statewide tally required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It's meant to collect data on the number, characteristics and needs of homeless people. That information helps determine funding needed for services for the homeless, Smith said.

Smith said she hopes this year's information will mean an increase in future funding.

"There is a need," she said.

Hope for the future

Lisa Wood, 50, and her family stopped by the event for dinner and haircuts.

Originally from Chicago, Wood and her family are staying at one of Western Dairyland's shelters. They moved to Eau Claire in February after not being able to find jobs in Rice Lake.

Wood's husband found work through temporary job services in Eau Claire, and the family stayed in motels until they were out of money. Wood then applied to stay in one of Western Dairyland's shelters in late June, but didn't get in until about a week ago.

"We just pitched a tent and stayed where we could until we got in Western Dairyland because of the wait," she said.

Wood said her family has had a good experience at the shelter and they hope to stay in the area and rent. She was pleased by the event.

"I think it's pretty good that they provided this," she said. "I come downtown a lot ... so I run into a lot of homeless people. It's kind of sad that even we're in that position."

The count occurs at the end of January and July, with volunteers searching the community for homeless people. In July 2011 the total was in the lower 20s. In January 2012 none was counted. Malec said it was a very cold night and groups that went out couldn't find anyone, but that didn't mean the homeless weren't out there.

Malec also hoped Wednesday's dinner would be a great social opportunity for the homeless. Free haircuts and massages were available, and resource services were present to answer questions.

"I'm really hoping ... they can forget their situation and become hopeful for their future," Malec said.

Schossow can be reached at 715-830-5832, 800-236-7077 or breann.schossow@ecpc.com.

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