June 7, 2016
Dear Marieke and Rolf:
I am writing to enlist your help in addressing the increasing number of broken families and the eroding of rural communities here in Clark County. A coalition of county services, area businesses, individuals and congregations are uniting in the effort to provide a ladder out of poverty for homeless families. We are joining the “Housing First” movement spreading across the United States which is based on the principle that until a family’s most basic needs for food and shelter are met, they do not have the emotional strength to address their other issues. Presently Clark County has no homeless shelter.
This “House of Mercy” as we have named it, will not only provide shelter for families, but will also provide case management. That is, a paid case worker will develop a care plan with each resident and then coordinate the service providers who will help them with financial or emotional counseling, securing benefits, job training, or what ever their needs may be. We are committed to working with the family until they are able to sustain themselves in permanent housing.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, which coordinates the work of similar coalitions operating shelters in Eau Claire, Wausau and La Crosse, is providing the professional guidance. An ideal four apartment building, presently in foreclosure, has been identified in Loyal. May 27th the bank that owns the building accepted an offer from Catholic Charities to purchase the building for $65,000.00 with the contingency that it is paid for by June 30th. We are now working to raise the funds to purchase the building and to provide the $50,000.00 expected annual operating costs.
We have already approached over a dozen businesses and foundations in the county who have committed financial support or are working through their corporate structure to apply for financial support. We will continue this approach. With this letter we turn to you.
Once the house is purchased we will need help preparing the building. Then when families move in we will need volunteer support of every kind from tutoring, to transportation, to Christmas gifts, to advocacy in the work place.
The blessings to our communities and county for restoring neighbors and friends to independent living and from drawing all of us into deeper community will be many. But to get there we must first purchase the building! Any help you can be will play a critical role in meeting this need. I would be happy to come in person to speak with you. Please contact me at 715-937-1644 or Roberto Partarrieu of Catholic Charities at 202-812-9331.
Sincerely
Fr. Steve Brice