West CAP hosted the first annual Community Connection event outside the Carin House Shelter at Stepping Stones in Menomonie, WI. This was an event for unsheltered individuals to come and gather community resources, a free lunch, and support from agencies that help serve our homeless population. This event was made possible by donations gathered from People’s State Bank, WESTconsin Credit Union, Culvers, Bauer Built, Kwik Trip, TS Concrete, Red Cedar Dentistry, Chris and Brenda Thalacker, and O’Sullivan’s Rainbow Resort.
This event took place on the day following the annual Point In Time count, which took place on the night of July 22nd. The West CAP Homeless Intervention Team, as well as volunteers across the West Central Homeless Coalition, take to the streets two times each year to take a census of unhoused individuals and families in our seven county service area. This event is called Point-in-Time Count, or PIT. This is done throughout the United States on a specific night to capture a snapshot of what homelessness looks like in our neighborhoods. All information gathered is reported to US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care. The individuals who attend the Community Connection event wo were unsheltered on the night of the PIT count are included in the census.
Along with a free lunch, participants received a hygiene bag with items purchased with the donations received. The bags contained items such as toothbrush and toothpaste (donated by Red Cedar Dentistry), deodorant, shampoo, lotion, razors, water bottles, socks, feminine hygiene products, laundry soap, band-aids and anti-bacterial wipes. Without the support of our donors, this event would not have been possible.
West CAP will continue participating in the PIT counts on the 4th Thursday of January and July annually. The After-PIT event will also continue, with hopes of expanding the locations to help assist the entire the West Central Homeless Coalition. To learn more about the Coalition, contact Christy at christyb@wcap.org.