New Day Resource Center Officially Opens in Eau Claire

A new Day Resource Center operated by Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council and Hope Gospel Mission officially opened on Monday.

The new facility at 1 Better Way in downtown Eau Claire will be jointly operated by the organizations, though Western Dairyland will not fully move into the building until next month. Katie Hulbert is the Housing and Family Services Director at Western Dairyland, and shared some of the services that are available at the site starting this week.

“So it will be operating Monday through Sunday 8:30 to 5:30,” she said. “They will have providers coming in to work with the guests, they will provide a place for them to shower, do laundry, go to the bathroom, receive services, and also as a warming and cooling shelter.”

Hulbert says about 50 people visited the new facility on its first day. The organizations estimate that total will nearly double once Western Dairyland moves in. Their staff will also visit the new Day Resource Center for some programs, like handing out free bus passes on Thursdays, but they’ll continue to offer most of their services at their current location until the move.

“We are still providing all of our services that we have historically with our housing prevention program, our rapid rehousing program, permanent supportive housing and our youth housing program, as well as our working wheels, transportation, and our skills enhancement program,” said Hulbert. “So all of those are still operating right now, just from our building at 418 Wisconsin Street.”

Hulbert says the organization expects to make the move in mid-January and begin offering those services at the new Day Resource Center full time.

The organizations are also still raising funding for the new Day Resource Center through their “One Better Way” campaign. So far, they’ve raised about half of their $6.4 million goal.