While many UW-Eau Claire students live on Upper Campus, a number of students also live off campus. JONAH (Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope) Justice is a grassroots organization that aims to address social injustice at its root causes.
“We really just aim to address social justice issues at the root causes,” said Erin Ries, JONAH Justice intern and former UW-Eau Claire student. “We really want to dig down, find out why a problem is happening and find out how to make sustainable changes, not just temporary ones.”
Ries started her internship at JONAH during her last semester at UW-Eau Claire this last academic year and has been working there for over six months. Ries said she hopes to have more students volunteer at JONAH.
In regards to housing, Ries said JONAH is a great way for off-campus students to figure out how they can resolve issues they encounter when having rental issues.
“There’s a huge problem with housing off-campus. We assist landlords and students who do not know their rights whatsoever and how the process works,” Ries said. “Everyone’s young, and it is probably their first time living off campus. And quite frankly, the students just get taken advantage of.”
According to Brenna Strojinc, the Intergovernmental Affairs Commission director for Student Senate, UW-Eau Claire used to have attorney Harry Hertel to help students with housing issues but is unsure if the university has legal resources available for students after his retirement.
“I know there’s probably so many people on campus who love to volunteer and love to help people and don’t know where,” Ries said. “I think [JONAH] is that place because there’s no commitment and nothing you have to do. There are different task forces of things we focus on, and everyone has a place.”
In the last few weeks, Ries worked with Student Senate to send out a survey about housing to UW-Eau Claire students to share their stories and experiences to better understand the problems student renters are facing. The survey closed last Friday, Oct. 4.
Ries said she received great feedback from the survey and cannot wait to implement her findings in JONAH.
Strojinc said she has yet to receive the survey results, but she has been in contact with Ries and will share them with the senate.
There is no current collaboration between JONAH and UW-Eau Claire, but Strojinc said the senate is still a great way to reach out for help when having issues on campus.
Ries said she wants students to know that if they need help, JONAH is also a perfect place for students to volunteer for their service-learning hours required for graduation.
Boggess can be reached at [email protected].
