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1990:
Founded as Wyoming Against Homelessness and registered as a corporation in Wyoming. 1st issue of Wyoming Winds published, 1st Homeless Memorial Day event held.
. 1991:
Became inactive, except for Wyoming Winds and Homeless Memorial Day. Was revived in 1993.
. 1994: Name changed to Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless. Applied for and received 501(c)(3) status. Found location at 910 Central Avenue, opened office, WCH Day Center, Art From The Streets Gallery/Studio. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
1995:
Publication of StreetViews began. 1st Art FromThe Streets Art Show was held at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, followed by several in Cheyenne. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
1996: Writing workshops and poetry readings held in conjunction with the Wyoming Arts Council. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
1997: Expanded at same location and opened Art From The Streets Gallery/Studio/sewing room.
Had a continual showing of art work by those involved in Art From the Streets Began making sleeping bags for homeless adults. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
1998:
Expanded again into an area that separated the sleeping bag/sewing room from the Art Gallery. Started making sleeping bags for children on Indian Reservations and refugee programs. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
1999 Opened clothing closet as no agencies were giving clothing to the homeless. 1st Fund Raising Raffle.
Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
2000:
In April Wyoming Winds became an on-line publication. June had first Walk in My Shoes fund raiser. Found a new location at 907 Logan Avenue. Moved into new location in August 2000. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
2001:
2nd Annual Walk in My Shoes was held. 2nd Annual raffle held. Part of the raffle proceeds were sent to NY Fire and Police Relief Fund. Sent children's sleeping bags to program in Providence, RI, Navajo Reservation in Arizona, Native American Children's program in Cheyenne, Cheyenne Interfaith Hospitality Network, Safe House.
Received a donation of fabric from Black Diamond Equipment, LTD in Salt Lake City, Utah. Received donation of neckties (used with sleeping bags) from California, hats, gloves, mittens from Maine, T-Shirts from NYC. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
2002:
February StreetViews, the Magazine and StreetViews Canada went on line 3rd Annual Walk In My Shoes held. Youth Group from St. Louis painted outside of the building. Started the Bicycles for the Homeless Program. This program provides donated bicycles for homeless to use for transportation. 73 sleeping bags for children given to St. Joseph's Children's Home in Torrington, WY. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
2003:
Eagle Scout candidate built shelving for the sleeping bag room and the storage cabinets. 4th Annual Walk In My Shoes. More bicycles rolling in and rolling out. Art From The Streets Gallery providing opportunities for homeless and formerly homeless artists to show and sell their work. Sponsored an art show at the Laramie County Library in May. StreetViews and Wyoming Winds continue on line. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
2004:
The bicycle program is rolling along. The 5th annual Walk in My Shoes held. HUD did a Low Income Homebuyer's Fair in the afternoon following the walk. Zion Congregational Church donated a storage shed, and Ed Stone, Bob Woodward and Greg Wilson put it together for us. StreetViews, the Magazine, StreetViews, Canada and Wyoming Winds continue on line. Homeless and formerly homeless artists continue to show their work in the Art From the Streets Gallery. In October a donation was given to WCH so that gasoline vouchers and necessary medications could be provided for locals who fall through the cracks.. October 8 the first Fall Fundraiser, Spaghetti Supper and Chinese Auction was held. Auction items included paintings, prints, photographs, crafts, music CD's, jewelry, greeting cards, poetry chap books, fiction and none-fiction donated by local artisans. These
included: Bess Arnold, Brett Axel, C. J. Box, Chip Carlson, Chip Rawlins, C. F. Kelly, Ed Warsaw, Jim Rolf, Larry Brown, Christina Alexander, Dominick Parlapiano, Earl Janack, Eric Lee, Gary Crook, Melanie Alexander, Rick Sellner, Ann Leininger, David Montoya, Jim Cathcart, Katherine Flandera, Jeanne Mould, Michael DeGreve, Michael Riversong and Todd Dereemer. WCH sponsored the 2004 Homeless Memorial Day on December 21, 2004. Building Fund Drive reaches $15,000.00. The Spirit of Columbia Commemorative Coin raffle, held on September 1, 2004, was won by Dustin Bates. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
2005:
A large donation of jackets was received from Charles River Apparel. Children's sleeping bags were given to the Cheyenne Respite program. The new outreach worker with CrossRoads Clinic arrived and we developed a relationship with him and are now able to help more people than ever. Our application for CDBG funds was successful and the building mortgage was paid off in August. We participated in the Wyoming Interagency Council homeless count. The bicycle program is still going strong. We received a donation of fabrics from UniCover in Cheyenne. 6th Annual Walk in My Shoes held in June. In September we sent donations to the victims of Katrina in Mississippi. Our application for surplus government property was successful and on November 2, 2005 we received the deed to the former Navy/Marine Reserve Center. A ribbon cutting and building dedication will take place on December 20, 2005. The Mayor was the featured speaker. Homeless Memorial Day held in December.
CIHN moved into 6 rooms on the south side of the building.
2006:
Construction at 907 Logan Avenue put in a shower and laundry facility. A Boy Scout did his Eagle project at 4700 Ocean Loop putting in shelves and storage for the sleeping bag fabric and sewing rooms. The long road towards construction of the Day Care Center started in April. CDBG funds have been obtained, the sprinkler system and fire alarm system have been updated, an architect has been hired and is working on the plans for the area,
The process is long and slow, but is moving along. The 7th Annual Walk In My Shoes was June 3, 2006. Volunteers have been working at 4700 Ocean Loop doing minor repairs, and setting up the computer lab. Homeless Memorial Day will be held December 21, 2006, in front of the State Capitol Building -- the Mayor and Governor have been invited to speak.
May 2006 CIHN moved out of the Richards Center -- stating lack of funds -- WCH moved the Art program into the area -- featuring Art Alley, Art From the Streets Gallery, Artist's Garret, Artist's Studio, Children's Art Spot and Print Shop - art by the homeless will be for sale -- all proceeds going direcly to the artist.
2007:
Plans for construction are still moving slowly-- while the shower and laundry facilities were put in during 2006, at 907 Logan Avenue, the actual construction on the
Day Care area of the Richard's Center has not started. An architect needs to be hired. CDBG funds for construction will be coming in
September. A zoning change was required and was successful. Work is still being done on the Site Plan and should be finished during the summer. The fire sprinkler system has been upgraded, a back flow preventer system has been installed. Lawn sprinklers, and some landscaping needs to
be done, but the 3 trees required were planted in May. Re striping of the parking lot and marking of loading zone and handicapped slots will be finished in May.
The 2006 Homeless Memorial Day was cancelled because of a blizzard. 2007 Homeless Memorial Day will be on December 21 providing there is no big snow
storm.
The first Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held on April 26, 2007. Micah Hayes, the art volunteer, opened his art show in May in the Art From The Streets Gallery.
Classes are offered in art, music, computers (both how to use the computer and how to repair computers), job skills, interviews, resumes. Nutrition classes and budget
classes will start soon.
The 8th Annual Walk In My Shoes was held on June 2, 2007. It was bigger and better than ever, even tho' the number of actual walkers was down, the number of ghost walkers
was way up. Poverty Resistance in Casper held a Walk In My Shoes Garage Sale and boosted the proceeds from the Walk even higher.
Sleeping bag volunteers have been quite active -- they are working at the Richards Center sewing room producing sleeping bags for the homeless.
Skills USA from Central High School spent one day a month during the school year repairing bikes for the bikes for the homeless project.
Classes at the Richards Center started up again with a new slant -- instead of offering classes we are offering the opportunity for
people to make appointments for learning computer skills and repairs, job skills (including resumes, interview skills, applications), living skills, music and art.
It seems that sometimes people don't want to sign up for a class but if they need help with any of the other things they will make an appointment. 113 people
make appointments for classes at the WCH Richards Center in 2007. We hope to continue to expand these classes.
2008:
Things got a bit confusing during 2008. Construction on the day care was late in starting -- but we did open the Look Your
Best Clothing Closet at the Richards Center. This closet provides clothing for professional jobs and job interviews. The classes have
had their ups and downs -- people teaching the classes have moved, had job changes and a variety of things that have kept the classes from
being at regular times. We have had several artists working in the Art From The Streets Studio. We had a visit from Health and Human Services (where we obtained the building) in
June and they seemed to be quite pleased with the way things are going, and even though it has been slow going they still felt we are making great progress.
Walk In My Shoes this year was a great success - it seems it gets bigger every year, and we get more and more ghost walkers. For more information on
this years walk Click here. During this year we acquired another round of CDBG funding, a grant from
Union Pacific, a grant from the Women's Civic League. All of these grants go towards the construction of the Day Center and purchasing of needed equipment, including playground equipment.
Click on the links below to see what's happening with WCH
Statistics
Inside the Richards Center
Volunteer in Action
Inside the Welcome Mat
Sleeping bag project
Homeless Memorial Day
Art From The Streets Gallery
Bike Repair Program
What's available at the 2 WCH buildings
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