New hope for homeless

By Joe Winter
Catholic Herald Correspondent

Looking over plans, from left, Fr. Jim Brinkman, pastor of St. Anne, Gail Macomber, director of the Salvation Army's Faith House, John Coughlin, executive director of the United Way of St. Croix County and Joe Bilgrien, Lutheran Social Services. (Photo by Joe Winter)

SOMERSET -- After serving as a house for the sisters at St. Anne Church and School for more than 80 years, St. Anne's convent will serve as a homeless shelter once all funding is obtained.

When the last nuns left the convent last fall, St. Anne parishioner Joe Bilgrien, who works for Lutheran Social Services proposed the idea to Fr. Jim Brinkman, St. Anne pastor, and Gail Macomber, director of the Salvation Army's Faith House in New Richmond.

Officials say the proposal definitely will go through and the design of the convent makes it good for a shelter. John Coughlin, executive director of the United Way of St. Croix County and a St. John parishioner, said there was a bedroom for mother superior and eight other bedrooms, plus an undeveloped third floor.

At one point a wall was torn down to turn four bedrooms into a pair of double rooms suitable for families, and Coughlin said the building is in great shape. It even has a fireplace, an amenity you won't find in most shelters.

"This is perfect," Macomber said while touring the convent recently with members of a housing resource network and local churches who are working diligently to find the funding and staff to transform it into a shelter. She said the number of homeless families in Pierce and St. Croix counties is higher than most people realize. "I get about 10 calls per day from people looking for housing," Macomber said.

Coughlin agreed that although most St. Croix County residents don't perceive it, the need for a homeless shelter definitely exists.

Bilgrien and Macomber, along with other organizations in the Pierce-St. Croix Housing Resource Network, have been working since June to find a building for an emergency and transitional shelter in the county. The convent fits that need, they said.

The network includes area churches, West CAP, Salvation Army, United Way, St. Croix County Department on Aging, Lutheran Brotherhood, Lutheran Social Services, Turningpoint, Pierce and St. Croix counties UW extension services, Habitat for Humanity, Workforce Resource, Christian Volunteers in Christ and Operation Help. Macomber, Bilgrien and Bobbie Kado of WestCAP spearheaded the committee in June with the help of Coughlin.

Officials hope to get 12 congregations involved with the project, and four are already on board: First Lutheran in New Richmond, Bethel Lutheran in Hudson, Ezekiel Lutheran in River Falls and English Lutheran in Ellsworth. If three or more Lutheran congregations get behind the effort, a grant is available, and Coughlin and Bilgrien are writing an application.

The connection with congregations means that miscellaneous supplies for daily living needs could be obtained on short notice, Coughlin said.

Federal dollars are being sought for long-term funding. Meanwhile, organizers also are looking for short-term funding, and a $20,000 grant has been obtained from the United Way of St. Croix County.

There is no timetable for implementation, even though the snow is flying, Coughlin said. "It's definitely priority," he said. "We started looking at the issue in June. The challenge will be to find 24-hour staff and volunteers.

"We are looking for congregations that would have some parishioners available for two days every month, or every two months, to serve an evening meal, then stay around and interact with them."

Besides providing a place to sleep and three meals a day, the staff will counsel people to become self-sufficient by teaching them how to budget money and learn job skills. The Job Service office in New Richmond has indicated it will help toward that end.

Another question is maximum length of stay, and the shelter will probably follow the lead of Faith House in New Richmond, which lets people stay for 30 days, with another 30 days as an option, "if people stay on track" and search for employment, Coughlin said. The organizers also contacted officials at a homeless shelter in Eau Claire for advice.

The shelter would be for single mothers and families, but not single men, he said.

While a survey is in the works to specify what circumstances cause homelessness in the region, Macomber said most of the people asking for help are young mothers or families who have lost their jobs or have high medical bills.

Right before Christmas, Macomber knew of at least four local homeless families. She said two were living in a motel room and one with family members. Macomber said that at any one time, there are 10 local families who could use the shelter's help.

Bilgrien has been getting more and more reports from individuals and pastors about people not being able to find affordable housing in St. Croix and Pierce counties.

Two years ago an article, "St. Croix Valley: Lay of the Land," was published by the Wilder Research Center. "Rising housing costs make it difficult for low-income residents to live in the area," it concluded. "Many low-income households pay too much for housing.

© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002

 Convent to become homeless shelter.

St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 27, 2002, Kevin Harter

Somerset, Wis. - In the heart of one of the Midwest's most affluent counties - Wisconsin's  St. Croix - and surrounded by housing developments soon to be occupied by commuters, a convent is being converted into a homeless shelter.

The empty convent on the grounds of St. Anne Catholic Church will serve what some call the "hidden homeless".

"The need is so much greater than people realize in this county."  said Gail Macomber, director of the Salvation Army's Faith House in New Richmond.  Homelessness is often stereotyped as an urban problem.  

"That's one of the myths," Macomber said.  "They are here.  But they're not under bridges.  They're in cars, camping out or staying with friends.  And they're not from someplace else.  Most are born and raised in the area".  

Homeless  outside Milwaukee, Madison or the Twin Cities tends to be an "invisible problem", she said .  While drug and alcohol abuse or mental health problems are contributing factors in some cases, they aren't the problem in all.  

"Job loss and medical bills are the two big one." Macomber said, "followed by domestic abuse and expensive housing here."

To address the issue, a group of churches and social service agencies formed the Pierce-St. Croix Housing Resource Network last June.

Using information from their own experience and data from the St. Paul-based Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, the group began looking for a building to be used for transitional housing.  According to Wilder's report on the St. Croix Valley - including the Minnesota counties of Chisago and Washington and the Wisconsin counties of Polk, Pierce and St. Croix - more than half of those considered low-income ($25,00 or less) and middle-income ($25,000 to $50,000) pay 35 percent or more of their income for housing.

"Someone with three kids can't afford to pay $800 for housing", Macomber said.

The shelter, which is being modeled after Faith House would provide housing, three meals daily and services tailored to the needs of single mothers and families, but not single men.  There will be a 30 to 60 day limit, and those staying must agree not to use drugs or alcohol.

"We will teach them what they need to know to become self-sufficient.  Things such as job skills, nutrition skills and developing a budget," Macomber said.

She said officials are looking at adding a men's shelter, possibly in River Falls, in the near future.  There are several other shelters in western Wisconsin, including Beacon House in Eau Claire and House of Hope in Menomonie.

Often proposals to open shelters are met, at least initially, with opposition.  Such was not the case in Somerset, said the Rev. Jim Brinkman.

"I have never heard any negativity", he said.  "We were looking for a use for this building and people are really excited that we have found a purpose."

Built in the 1920's, the convent has been vacant since September, when the last nun moved out.  The eight-room shelter, which is expected to open in June, will have room for 12 - 15 people,, primarily from Pierce and St. Croix counties.

The building will be leased by the church to the United Way, and the annual budget of about $100,000 will be raised by assorted grants, donations, several agencies and churches, said John M. Coughlin, executive director of the United Way of St. Croix County.

The shelter will be staffed 24 hours a day by an administrator and volunteers from area churches, who will also do the cooking.

While the homeless problem is more evident in larger cities, advocates said area shelters are usually full and often have to turn people away.

Counting the homeless in rural areas is, at best, an inexact science, but estimates by the state's Division of Housing and Intergovernmental Relations said demand for shelter is up more than 10 percent from last year.

The agency tracks the number of people seeking shelter through the 48 statewide agencies it funds.  Homeless advocates said the need, which was long overlooked, has grown in recent months because of the slumping economy and lack of affordable housing.  Beacon House, which is run by the non-denominational Eau Claire Inter-Faith Hospitality Network, has been running at capacity since it opened last year.  Beacon House has seven bedrooms and a capacity of 25.

"About 70 percent are employed, but many at low-paying jobs with little or no benefits," said Nancy Johnson, Beacon House director.  "They need gainful employment and affordable housing."   

Grace place plans to host open house.

Event marks the end of hours of volunteer work. 

New Richmond News, October 24, 2002, Brandon Lorenz, News staff reporter.

Grace Place, a transitional shelter in Somerset for jobless residents and children, will be hosting an open house Nov.17.

The event marks the culmination of month of work, says Gail Macomber, who services as director of the project with The Salvation Army.  

"It's just amazing how many people have donated stuff," said Macomber.  "We couldn't afford to do this without volunteers."

Originally a convent for St. Anne's Church, Grace Place was converted into a homeless shelter over the summer.  

With five bedrooms, several bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room and laundry facilities, the building should have room to house about a dozen people.

The program is an offshoot of New Richmond's Faith House, but unlike Faith House, Grace Place will be staffed 24 hours a day.  

Programming for the facility will be the responsibility of The Salvation Army, with funding provided by the United Way.

"Our board committed to this early on," said St. Croix County United Way Executive Director John Coughlin.  "We know we've got the operating expenses for the first year.  Now we're looking for funds over the long haul."  

Although The Salvation Army is the driving force behind the programming, Macombers says she intends to utilize area resources.  

Macomber says she plans on asking UW Extension officials to offer budgeting workshops for the resident with other groups like WestCap offering workshops on other important job and life skills.

"The rules are pretty strict," said Macomber, who says that residents are not allowed to smoke or dink during their stay at Grace Place.  They must also adhere to a curfew.

"You have to be part of the function body here, " added Macomber.

While coordinating the immense amount of volunteer man hours and donations that went into making Grace Place a reality was sometimes difficult, Macomber says that she has no doubts that the program will be successful.  

Macomber should know.  Prior to serving as director to Grace Place, she was an occupant at Faith House.

"I believe with every bit of my being that this is a successful program," said Macomber.

"I' m amazed at the demand," she said.  "In Faith House, I have to choose between three or four families.  That is really hard to do."

Grace Place, an amazing community building project.

St. Croix Valley Home Builders Association, Home Guide 2002-2003, Mary Caton-Rosser

A cooperative community building project has helped to open Grace Place in Somerset,  The facility will provide temporary housing and services for individuals and families in transition.  The former convent at St. Anne's Catholic Church served as the site of the renovation project.

Area residents concerned with housing issues formed an ad-hoc committee called the Pierce-St. Croix Housing Resource Network a couple of years ago.  Hudson based United Way of St. Croix County agreed to host the monthly meetings.  The need for short-term (30-45 days) transitional housing for the area was the group's focus issue.  Through discussion, the committee identified the former convent at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Somerset as vacant.  "We approached the pastor" explains John Coughlin, Executive Director of the United Way of St. Croix County.  "The United Way signed a sixteen-month lease on the building and took over payment of the utilities."

The United Way of St. Croix County then committed money towards renovations and operations.  The main work involved totally redoing two existing bathrooms and putting in a third full bathroom, plus making an office area.

Coughin prepared several grant proposals and secured funding from the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation and Otto Bremer Foundation.  "I approached a builder who had done work on my home about donating time for some renovation to the convent" says Coughlin.  "He brought me to a St. Croix Valley Home Builders Association board meeting and I asked for their help."

From there, Coughlin say the project took off.  Derrick Construction of New Richmond became the general contractor and other SCVBA members also joined in.  He adds that there were so many individuals, businesses and organizations involved that he hesitates to start naming "because I will forget someone".

"John Coughlin contacted us regarding the Grace Place project in February 2002 when the United Way and Salvation Army became interested in converting the empty convent into Grace Place," explains Don Martin of J-Mar Buildings in Somerset.  "They were interested in determining if the conversion of the existing dwelling was a realistic project."

Martin says he asked designer Ed Hawksford of Bayport, to come up with a preliminary concept for Grace Place, while J-Mar decided to donate carpentry labor for the demolition, and framing and finish carpentry.  "We gathered input from various subcontractors we work with and put together a full cost construction project," Martin explains.  "The proposed cost was substantially more than various nonprofits agencies could swing, so we decided to approach the St. Croix. Croix Valley Home Builders Association for help obtaining donated labor and materials."

Ron Derrick volunteered to work with the state inspectors to reduce some of the expense due to building code items.

Grace Place will house about a dozen people at a time, and is directed towards helping single women and families with children, although it is not a homeless shelter.  Residents will have weekly goals, and must be actively working to help themselves.  The United Way of St. Croix County has arranged for the management of daily operations to be handled by The Salvation Army and director, Gail Macomber.  

Martin reflects, "I believe it was an important cooperative project primarily because of the increasing shortages of affordable housing in St. Croix County.  There is a demand for temporary shelter for families in need.  It was a great opportunity for our builder's association to give back to our community, and in general, is a good example of the kind of volunteerism we can all do to strengthen our sense of community in our new post 9/11 reality."

United Way of St. Croix County is an independent nonprofit corporation governed by a seventeen member  local board, operating with a small staff and many volunteers.  Coughlin adds, "In simple terms, we identify problems and opportunities in St. Croix County, conduct an annual fundraising campaign and then disburse the money to over seventy nonprofits agencies in the area."

A needs assessment of the St. Croix. Croix Valley, which originally highlighted the housing issue for the Pierce-St. Croix Housing Network, was done by the Wilder Foundation.  It is listed under St. Croix Valley at www.wilder.org/research.  Find more information on the United @Way of St. Croix County at www.unitedwaystcroix.org.