Benjamin's House

09/03/2026

Behind every number is a person.

From January through July 2026, 131 people were served through Benjamin’s House programs, representing 89 households.

As of August 2026, we've grown to 21 emergency shelter rooms. Finishing touches on Rooms 20 and 21, complete by the Friends In Christ Bible Study. Making each room feel like home.

In January 2026, our Continued Care Housing Program grew to six units, giving residents an opportunity to continue working toward stability after emergency shelter. We could not have opened this additional unit without an incredible community effort. Thank you to Northwest Builders for bringing the team together and seeing it through, along with Kitchen & Floor Decor, Spectrum Painting, Ross Plumbing, B&B Electric, and so many others who donated their time, talent, materials and resources. The project was funded through the Sisters Mary Alphonse Bradley Fund, along with generous donations from the businesses who helped complete the work.

But growing our physical capacity is only part of the story. Case management is at the heart of what we do. Our Case Manager works with residents to navigate the challenges that contributed to their housing instability, connect them with community partners and resources, and take meaningful steps toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Our Program Assistants support this work every day working to support people before they even enter shelter. Yes, we have a waiting list, but while people are waiting, our Program Advocate is checking in, helping identify needs, provide support and connect them with resources whenever possible.

Our work doesn't begin when someone gets a room. It begins when someone reaches out for help.

We are incredibly grateful for our staff, volunteers, donors, community partners, organizations, businesses and individuals who continue to believe that everyone deserves a safe place to stay and an opportunity to move forward.

Benjamin’s House is growing because the need is here—and we are committed to meeting it.

09/02/2026

Help make sure no child sleeps on the floor in our town! Work along so many others and a few amazing organizations and sign up today. Or give this a ❤️ and share to someone who may be interested in helping.

Help us make sure no child sleeps on the floor in our town! 🛏️💙

Rice Lake Rotary, Barron County Sunrise Rotary, and The Cumberland Rotary Impact Club are partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace for a 60-bed build on Saturday, October 3, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Barron County Fairgrounds.

Volunteers will help cut, sand, drill, assemble and stain beds for children right here in the Barron area.

We are also collecting donations of new bedding at registration on build day. Our greatest need this fall is twin-size mattress protectors. Other needed items include:

• New twin-size sheet sets
• Twin comforters
• Twin bed-in-a-bag sets
• New pillows

Items may also be purchased through the Walmart registry by searching for “SHP Chippewa Valley Chapter.”

Monetary donations and bed sponsorships are greatly appreciated. A sponsorship can also be made in honor or memory of someone special.

Volunteer sign-up:
https://x.gldn.io/e/ubsRbrI0L5b

For more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/SHPChippewaValley
https://shpbeds.org/chapter/wi-chippewa-valley/

Together, we can help ensure that NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN!®

09/02/2026

Who are we serving?
There isn't one “typical” person experiencing homelessness.

From January through July 2026, 131 people were served through Benjamin’s House programs, representing 89 households.

Our youngest residents were children, while others were older adults. At intake:
16 were under age 5
13 were ages 5–12
4 were ages 13–17
10 were ages 18–24
36 were ages 25–34
28 were ages 35–44
11 were ages 45–54
8 were ages 55–64
5 were 65+

That means 13 people served were age 55 or older, and 4 were veterans.

These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent children, parents, adults, older adults, veterans, individuals and families who found themselves without stable housing and needed a safe place and support to move forward.

At Benjamin’s House, we meet people where they are.

Our goal is not simply to provide a room. Through wraparound case management, we help residents identify barriers, connect with community resources and partners, and work toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.

Every person has a story. Every household has different needs. And every step forward matters.

We couldn't do this without our community -- thank you to ALL our partners -- just to name a few: Rice Lake St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, ADRC of Barron & Rusk Counties, , Marshfield Clinic, West CAP, Community Connections to Prosperity, Sleep in Heavenly Peace - WI, Chippewa Valley and so many more partners. You make it all possible!

❤️ and we are grateful for ours!

09/01/2026

A place to stay. A chance to move forward. Every night matters.

A safe place to sleep provides more than a bed. It gives someone the opportunity to catch their breath, work with our Case Manager, connect with community partners, address barriers, and begin taking steps toward stability.

From January through July 2026, Benjamin’s House provided: 8,464 BED-NIGHTS

That includes: 6,163 Emergency Shelter bed-nights AND 2,301 Continued Care Housing (CCHP) bed-nights

For perspective, Benjamin’s House provided: 7,161 bed-nights in 2022, 9,084 in 2023, 10,110 in 2024, 12,019 in 2025, 8,464 through July 2026.

We have already provided 70% of all the bed-nights we provided during the entire year of 2025, and there are still months left in 2026.

As our capacity grows, so does our ability to meet the need in our community.

But a bed is only the beginning. Shelter + case management + community partnerships = a path forward.

We are grateful to everyone who helps make that possible. Did you know that every room in our house is sponsored by area organizations? Thank you to our room sponsors and every donor that makes a warm bed and a warm meal possible.

Bethany Lutheran - Rice Lake, WI Four Parishes One Faith World Harvest Church - Rice Lake Marshfield Clinic First Lutheran Church, Cumberland, WI and so many more!!

08/30/2026

Homelessness is often just one piece of the story.

When someone comes through the doors of Benjamin’s House, they are often facing challenges that go far beyond finding a safe place to sleep.

From January through July 2026, 131 people came through our programs. Among those entering our programs did you know that 50 reported a mental health disorder? Or, that 31 had a chronic health condition? These categories are not mutually exclusive. Many of the people we serve are navigating multiple challenges at the same time.

This is why case management is at the heart of Benjamin’s House.

We are a wraparound case management program, helping residents navigate challenges, connect with community partners and resources, and take meaningful steps toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Our Case Manager leads this important work, with our Program Assistants and other staff providing support to both the Case Manager and our residents throughout their time at Benjamin’s House.

So much of our program’s success hinges on this work, and we are incredibly grateful for the dedication, compassion, and care our team brings every day.

Homelessness maybe the crisis, but helping someone move forward requires looking at the whole picture.

Give Hope. Give Support. Give Compassion. You never know what someone is facing.

❤️