Street Ambassadors program coming to Eau Claire with hopes of better connection with downtown’s homeless

This article was originally shared on WEAU 13 News

By Daniel Gomez | Published: Feb. 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM EST

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Along Barstow Street you will find people walking around and businesses they want to get to. Soon, there will be new faces in Downtown Eau Claire to help those visiting and those who call the streets home.

“I’ve actually been homeless on these streets,” said Stephney Brick. Now the operations manager for Block By Block’s Street Ambassadors program in Eau Claire, she hopes to have her team ready to not only connect with visitors but also the city’s homeless, or unhoused.

“Training is going good. It can get long at times,” said Peyton Bunce. He is one of four full time Street Ambassadors in training. He and Jeremy Hampton were sent out on a scavenger hunt as part of their training to familiarize themselves with the Barstow Street corridor.

“I used to see them all the time on Nicolette Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis. So when I heard they were coming to Eau Claire I kind of wanted to join them,” said Hampton.

Block by Block is a group that has programs exactly like or similar to the Street Ambassadors in cities across the Midwest. Through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the program comes to the Chippewa Valley.

The purpose is to help anyone stopping by downtown. That can include visitors who need help getting places or help learning where to check out on Barstow Street. A goal though is to build personal connections with the homeless who frequent the area. Some of which tend to come through the doors of businesses along the street.

“They didn’t know who to call for help. They didn’t necessarily know how to handle some situations with the unsheltered,” said Billie Hufford. “Somebody could be having a rough mental health day. It could be disrupting the business.”

With her own personal experience, Brick hopes to help others in downtown that do not need law enforcement interaction.

“So, let’s say Joe went into The District and was causing an issue. And we walk in and say, hey how’s it going? That might be all it needs,” said Brick. “That matters to a lot of people. Just that one smile. Or that one hello for the day. Regardless if you’re having a bad day.”

Cleaning up downtown where they can is also a goal of the Street Ambassadors. Training continues for the next few weeks as the team still gets better acquainted with Barstow Street. When ready, the team will work in shifts and will be around as early as 7 a.m. until as late as 7:30 p.m. That is to better align with the hours the homeless leave and wait to enter the Sojourner House. The shelter is also located on Barstow Street.