Solutions Center, the nonprofit that provides homeless assistance and domestic violence support in Fond du Lac, announced a major operational shift. After a recent loss of grant funding and a decline in charitable donations left the agency with a roughly $1 million budget deficit, the organization decided to close its dedicated building and move its domestic‑violence services into the St. Katharine Drexel Shelter on North Peters Avenue.

Why the relocation makes sense

Executive Director Amy Loof explained that the decision came after extensive conversations with funders, the Department of Children and Families, and other community partners. “We wanted to ensure we could continue our mission and serve vulnerable populations,” Loof said. “The move allows us to keep helping both the homeless and those escaping domestic violence under one roof.”

Loof noted that many families in the shelter’s homeless‑family program already have histories of domestic violence, so integrating the two services creates a natural, “easy transition” for clients. Staff are receiving additional training to address the combined needs of both populations.

Expanded programming for families and youth

Beyond simply co‑locating services, Solutions Center plans to broaden its domestic‑violence programming. New outreach efforts will focus on early safety planning, identifying red flags, and providing education to prevent abuse before it escalates. The agency also announced the launch of additional youth programs aimed at early intervention and support for children who have witnessed or experienced violence.

“We start working with the kids, we start doing things to prevent, we start outreach to potentially grab those domestic‑violence victims, start safety planning early, and start noticing red flags earlier,” Loof said.

How to access services

Individuals seeking help or more information about the transition can contact Amy Loof, Executive Director, or Britany Behring, Grant and Fundraising Coordinator, at the shelter’s address: 358 N. Peters Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI 54935. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 920‑922‑8122. Direct extensions are 401 for Loof and 410 for Behring.

The relocation is intended to preserve essential services for both homeless families and survivors of domestic violence while strengthening the organization’s ability to break the cycle of poverty and abuse in the Fond du Lac area.

Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.