Laurel Walker article on Waukesha homelessness

Laurel Walker has an article on homelessness in Waukesha.  She uses the recent death of a chronically homeless person as a jumping point to connect with significant cuts in the funding for services for people who are homeless.

Trying to help the homeless is not easy-or cheap.  But studies have documented that when you factor in police contacts, emergency room services, etc., it's actually better & more cost-effective to try to help the chronically homeless into housing rather than the traditional model of encouraging them to pull themselves up by the bootstraps.

Some agencies are planning an event to call attention to the issue of homelessness.

On Aug. 26, the Housing Action Coalition will try again with "One Night, One Community."


The "campout" limited to 100 people will begin at 5 p.m. and be staged at a lot and parking lot on the corner of Perkins Ave. and E. Main St., owned by the Waukesha Housing Authority. A candlelight walk at dusk is planned.

Pre-registration materials indicate the potential for cancellation should severe weather or other emergency arise - a luxury unavailable to the truly homeless.

The article doesn't say who the contact people are for this campout, but if you call either the Women's Center or the Hebron House of Hospitality, they should be able to get you connected with the right person.


But even a successful event won't solve the crucial question of where additional funding will come from.

Facing $300,000 in cuts among nearly a dozen agencies, representatives say they won't.

For example, Hope Center expected to serve 240 with emergency rent help this year, but it'll have funds for about 50, officials say.

And Hebron House of Hospitality has seen a 141% increase in emergency shelter demand since 2007.

Update:  Initial post edited slightly to correct formatting error.