Homelessness in Wisconsin:
Call your senator
before Nov. 5

Dear readers,
We have a very direct request of you today, as part
of the follow-up to our recent statewide reporting and
editorial project on homelessness in Wisconsin: Please
call today and urge your state senator to support Senate
approval of eight nonpartisan bills that would launch
$7.5 million in new funds to combat homelessness in our
state.
The bills, based on recommendations from the state’s
Interagency Council on Homelessness, have already been
approved by the Assembly, way back in June. Gov. Tony
Evers has pledged his support and is ready to sign the
bills. They simply await Senate action, and there’s only
one more chance for that action this year.
The state Senate will be in session for only one more
day this fall – Tuesday, Nov. 5 – so it’s imperative that
Wisconsin residents everywhere act now to urge senators
to pass this much-needed legislation. The bills would
provide short-term grants or loans to defray housing
costs, help struggling people find housing, create more
beds at shelters, pay for skills training, help landlords
repair low-cost rentals, and increase grants to housing
operators and service providers.
We know that all of those things are desperately
needed in the complex and multi-faceted fight against
homelessness. Please join in that fight by calling your
senator today. The clock is ticking, and winter is coming.
If you are unsure how to contact your senator, visit
https://legis.wisconsin.gov to get names and contact
information. To learn more about the issue of homelessness
in Wisconsin, and to review the recent reporting
project, visit https://bit.ly/2MAYVNz

Patrick Wood
Publisher