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Veterans services: Chippewa Falls veterans shelter to close; Dunn County office reports large back‑pay recoveries
Summary
Jessica Christiansen, representing the Dunn County Veterans Service Office, told the Health and Human Services Board that the veterans homeless shelter in Chippewa Falls lost state funding and will close Sept. 30, 2025. The county office reported strong back‑pay recoveries in 2025 and a recent high‑value VA award to a surviving spouse.
Jessica Christiansen, representing the Dunn County Veterans Service Office, told the Health and Human Services Board that the veterans homeless shelter in Chippewa Falls lost state funding and is scheduled to close Sept. 30, 2025.
Christiansen said the Chippewa Falls shelter was one of three veterans‑specific shelters in Wisconsin and that operators and county veterans service officers are exploring options to house and support veterans after the closure. She said Greg Quinn had reached out to Representative Derrick Van Orden’s office to request expansion of HUD‑VASH vouchers to help with housing placements.
On state funding matters, Christiansen said the state budget included a roughly 5% increase to the county Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) grant; for Dunn County that increase equates to about $700, she said. Locally, a nonprofit group that once owned a veterans house recently gave a $15,000 check to the Dunn County Veterans Memorial; the VFW served as fiscal agent for that payment, Christiansen said.
Christiansen highlighted the Dunn County office’s recent back‑pay collections: about $286,000 in June and $919,000 year‑to‑date. She contrasted that revenue with the office’s total annual budget of about $318,000, illustrating the financial impact of successful VA claims work. She told the board a notable case produced about $167,000 in back pay to a surviving spouse, plus roughly $1,600 in ongoing monthly benefits and other entitlements.
On federal policy and benefits, Christiansen described ongoing research and advocacy around toxic exposures and veteran cardiovascular disease, particularly among Gulf War veterans. She said that expanding presumptive conditions and voucher access are among the approaches veterans groups are pursuing.
Dr. Alex Hall asked how many veterans currently reside at the Chippewa Falls facility; Christiansen estimated roughly 50 people currently housed there, but said she did not have a precise, confirmed count.
No formal board action was taken on these reports; the presentation was provided as information.
Sources: Jessica Christiansen, Dunn County Veterans Service Office; referenced materials and outreach to Representative Van Orden’s office.
