Homeless tent. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – A proposal was brought up at Tuesday’s Wausau City Council meeting to create a two-phase program to help women dealing with homelessness. It’s a partnership wtih CW Solutions.
Phase one involves bringing the women into CW Solutions housing at no expense to them, and working with them individually to overcome the issues that lead to them becoming homeless.
Phase two would involve them transitioning into their own housing, with the help of their case manager. Alderman Doug Diny serves as vice chair of the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee, which voted unanimously to look into the proposed solution. He says it’s a step in the right direction, but that the city needs to do its homework first.
The idea was initially proposed by the Wausau Police Department through their existing partnership with CW Solutions. Chief Matthew Barnes says a plan like this would be a good idea.
Barnes said, “There’s a portion of our population that really aren’t ready to be housed. For individuals who are in-shelter or living outdoors, and then the next step would be getting them in an apartment, and they don’t the skills or the abilities or the resources necessary to be able to set them up to be successful.”
Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg says women who are unhoused face several risks, so it’s important to give them a place to stay. Rosenberg said, “They’re relying on folks. You heard last night at the meeting our outreach specialist Tracy talking about the trafficking that can happen or the abuse.”
Funding for the proposed plan has not been discussed yet, but the Public Health and Safety Committee will look at it further in June.
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