St. Katharine Drexel Shelter - Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Elizabeth

I wish I could leave the star space empty in all honesty. I’m going to be a professional and polite reviewer.
Also I want to clarify that I will not mince words but I will give an applause to certain individuals that work there. Before I get into the nitty gritty thoughts and details. Because not everyone who works there is a terrible person. Alyssa is sweet and I’m glad that someone with her heart and skills works there. I’m glad she’s one of the few I knew I could trust. Miss Betsy is another great employee there. She’s definitely got the “gentle and professional maternal instinct and spirit” that I can easily see and trust. Deanna; my case manager there was awesome too. She’s definitely was someone I’d want in my corner truthfully. She’s an amazing advocate and you can tell her heart is in the right place with how she reminds people that they are in fact capable of creating a great future even after homelessness. The only time I feel they actually validated my situation when I became very depressed and alone and was venting to a guy (who was an employee; not a resident) that use to work there. Let’s just say the things he said? Completely unacceptable and unprofessional. Thankfully he no longer works there and I appreciated that in that situation they did have my back. It was everything else that was absolutely wrong. I have issues with the director in specifics; from telling me to walk home from the hospital in the cold weather; knowing full well I had a compromised immune system. it was the gaslighting and victim blaming when I was talking about my reason for leaving said house. It was being told “I’ll exit you from this program” for SARCASM. It was the food being stolen by one resident from another resident. It was being told “No food or snacks after 9:30 unless you worked 2nd/3rd shift; all because nobody wanted to clean the kitchen “properly”. Like seriously who the hell DENIES SOMEONE FOOD which is a basic human right” there were a few employees who saw it from my perspective. She made no exceptions either. So even if I or someone else had a doctors note that states food must be consumed to prevent certain medical problems from happening or prevent a flare up they would still deny it. It was serious things; triggering things that were being reported to her; with no consequence for the person committing these actions yet in the same breath tell clients (me in specific) that CBD (Look up the 2018 farm bill for specifics) was not allowed on their property because it had .3% THC (which is legal because as long as it’s following the conditions of it being within specific regulations and legalities. On top of the fact that it’s sold a number of places well as denying it even with a doctors note) but I have this deep gut feeling she would not even try to deny someone a mood stabilizer if a client needed it. It was the unprofessionalism when the shelter had to have a very necessary treatment when someone went to a house a bought bed bugs back with them. When a resident found out the place was being treated they were terrified because of their asthma possibly causing them trouble. Another resident who had fought and beat cancer was scared of the very hard chemicals in the bed bug that was used. It was the lack of communication between the staff and residents because nobody knew where they would get there. Let’s not forget that coloring hair was against the rules until the “handbook” was rewritten to include that because the color would stain the shower walls. So when a gal bleached her hair she was forced to wash it outside with the with the coldest hose water attached to the outside of the building. It was the lack of comfort when I ran out of medication because I had no money to get it and I was switching primary care providers so I could get another years worth of medication; as well as when It was when I got absolutely shit on when I asked for a $1 for a medication I need; yet had the AUDACITY to ask me how much money I had saved in my bank account when it came to move into my apartment. (More in next comment)

Kristin M. H.

I didn't even want give a single star. This place is like a comfortable jail. And the director and a few staff members pick their favorite "needy" so while some get kicked out for breaking the rules , the favorites get to live there almost a year continually breaking the rules and the director turns a blind eye . But beware if she don't like you she'll kick you out faster than you can blink. This place is a joke . She's also over at the new warming shelter and I tell you if you had been kicked out the drexel she will deny you entry the warming shelter also. She's already denied a few ex -drexel clients (God have mercy on her soul)
I thank God I have finally came up and I have my own house and I don't have to deal with her again.

Susan V.

Friendly ladies. Very helpful.

Brian G.

Friendly compassionate staff

Justin K.

Like a hotel, and donations are accepted!

Brad W.

Jaimie L. (.