Always in their corner. No matter what!
Eau Claire Sojourner House
David entered our house in December of 2021. He suffered from severe PTSD which made it very difficult to maintain a job or obtain housing on his own. Our staff connected him with community resources and entered him into the communities Coordinated Entry Homeless Prioritization list. All throughout 2022 we continued to build a relationship of trust and engage him with a community of collaborated support. In December of 2022, he received a rapid rehousing opportunity through our partnership with Lutheran Social Services. He needed help, your help, our community’s help to make positive changes and move his life forward! Every night new guests come to our house needing help. We need your continued support to let them know, we are always in their corner – NO MATTER WHAT! Please partner with us and help change a life today!
La Crosse Warming Center
We first met Greg when he came through our doors at the La Crosse Warming Center. He struggled with mental health issues after losing his wife and son. He could not maintain a home, but we recognized his desire for a second chance. Greg moved into our Beyond Shelter home. The Beyond Shelter home is not just housing; it’s the support, understanding, respect, and, most importantly, an opportunity to change. And that change takes time. Every gentleman who comes through those doors has a lifetime of trauma and obstacles to overcome before they venture forward in the world. There’s a lot to learn, and they need someone in their corner. And we’re in it no matter what!
“I started working with the guys in the Beyond Shelter Program six months ago. I know how grateful they are for the community’s support and this second chance. I meet with them regularly, setting goals and working to overcome barriers. I have witnessed how knowing they have a place to call home gives them a sense of security to change things in their lives for the positive. I would love to see this home continue to succeed and hope that someday we may be able to open additional Beyond Shelter homes. It’s truly making a difference.”
~Brianna Hougom, Beyond Shelter Program La Crosse
Greg regularly volunteers at the La Crosse Warming Center cooking meals, and we hope to have Greg moving out of the Beyond Shelter home soon into his own place. But when one moves out, another moves in! We are constantly working to make a positive change, not only in our resident’s lives, but in the well-being of the whole community! Here is your chance to help make a positive change and let them know we care! We need your continued support to let them know we are always in their corner – NO MATTER WHAT! Please partner with us and help change a life today!
Wausau Warming Center
Seven years ago, Beyond Shelter opened it’s first house. In that time a lot of homeless men have known it as their first stable home in a very long time. Now there are three homes in two different cities for homeless men to rebuild or even build a life for the first time. It’s not just housing, it’s the supports, understanding, respect, and most importantly, an opportunity to change. And that change takes time. Every gentleman that comes through those doors has a lifetime of trauma and obstacles to overcome before they are ready to venture forward in the world. There’s a lot to learn and they need someone in their corner. And we’re in it no matter what.
Our goal is to help individuals learn the skills necessary to obtain and maintain stable housing forever. Jay was homeless just two years ago. He was sleeping in a tent behind a garage in Wausau. Struggling with his mental illness, poverty, addiction, and homelessness he was referred to Beyond Shelter. A short time later he moved in to one of our houses. There he slept in a bed that had never been slept in before, learned to cook and eat healthy, took care of his health, worked hard to deal with his addiction and even got a part-time job and paid off all his debts. He did this, and it wasn’t easy. But he had a stable home and a team of people to help at every turn. He stumbled a few times along the way. Life isn’t easy for anyone, and Jay was no exception. Because Beyond Shelter is so different from other programs, those opportunities to learn are why it works.
Today Jay has his own apartment and a bike that he loves to ride. He’s grown as a person and learned a lot in the last two years. He still receives services from Beyond Shelter staff every week and will for as long as he needs us. We’re always here in his corner, no matter what. Please partner with us and help change a life today!