Thanking Occupy and creating the same committee the city did . . . despite council concerns that they wouldn’t. They can’t really fix what the council did, since they don’t control the land that Occupy is on, but they’re doing what they can.
County Board Members Seek Approaches to Address Homeless Issues
Dane County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner will be introducing a resolution tonight recognizing the work done by the Occupy Madison movement and asking the county board to create a Homeless Issues Committee to address the needs of Dane County’s homeless population.
While Occupy Madison began as a protest, it evolved into a tent city for homeless. “Dane County thanks the Occupy Movement and the Occupy Madison residents for their efforts to address important community needs during this recession,” reads the resolution.
“More than 2000 individuals were turned away from homeless services in 2011 in Dane County,” said Wegleitner. “While a tent city is not a permanent solution, it has proven to be a viable temporary strategy. It provides services and shelter for people who have been turned away from homeless shelters.”
The resolution calls on Dane County to form a Homeless Issues Committee to explore issues including access to restrooms and showers, daytime storage of personal belongings, and the ability to utilize public spaces free from harassment.Sixteen Dane County Supervisors took steps to recognize the human right to housing on March 15, 2012 through the introduction of Res 292, 2011-12, “Dane County Recognizes Housing as a Human Right”.
This is just for introduction, but there will be a hearing before the county board in the future as well.
On March 15, 2011 a resolution was introduced to the Dane County Board to declare that Dane County recognizes housing is a human right and make a commitment that all people who desire a place of shelter and stable long-term housing be prioritized to have this basic need met both temporarily and permanently. The Housing is a Human Right resolution calls on Dane County to commit to exploring creative uses of the public and private dollars.
When the Occupy protest moved to the 800 block of East Washington Avenue in Madison it was a protest, but it has evolved over time to a tent city for the homeless and it has become a creative way for the City of Madison to support Housing as a Human Right for Madisonians with limited additional costs to the City of Madison for electricity.
Dane County recognizes that a tent city is not a permanent solution, nor is it the only solution to solve gaps in the homeless services system, but has proven to be a viable temporary strategy and should continue to be a part of the solution. The residents of the 800 block of East Washington Avenue maintained a positive relationship with the police during their tenure on the site. Several police departments across the nation have found that tent cities have no more crime than the rest of the community.
Lack of resources in 2011 forced the homeless services system in Dane County to turn away 2003 individuals, while serving 3079. Due to the lack of resources in the Dane County homeless services system, men are limited to 60 days in shelter per year while families are limited to 180 days in shelter in their lifetime. A tent city provides services for people who have used their limited time in shelter, have been turned away from shelter or whose individual needs are not adequately met by the current shelter program models.
There is a need for additional federal, state and local city and county funding for Housing First programs, more Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units, and adequate shelter for those without housing. Additionally, funding is needed to eliminate waiting lists for mental health and AODA treatment, a better health care system for the uninsured, financial support for those unable to work, job training programs for those who lack the education or skills they need in our job market, a child care system that is affordable for all, a “wet shelter” that provides a safe environment for those whose addiction makes it impossible to function safely within our existing shelter system, and an end to the revolving door at our jail that currently substitutes for mental health and AODA treatment.
The City of Madison played an important role in facilitating the provision of critical services in a time of great need by providing a campground permit for the 800 block of East Washington Avenue. Dane County shares responsibility for the solution to this problem and will partner with the City of Madison, United Way, Community Shares of Wisconsin, the non-profit community, the faith community and the private sector.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Dane County thanks the Occupy movement and the Occupy Madison residents for their efforts to address important community needs during this recession, and recognizes their potential to be an important resource for this county, and applauds their creative response to the growing poverty and homelessness caused by the economic crisis.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Dane County supports pursuing creative and compassionate solutions for the current homeless population as follows:
1. Requesting the Madison Urban Ministry to convene a committee to explore alternative public and/or private sites for homeless community housing in temporary structures and to report back to Dane County at the Board meeting of July 12, 2012.
2. Appointing a joint city-county Homeless Issues Committee to explore many of the issues that have been brought up such as restrooms, showers, laundry, third party complaint system, a place to store belongings during the day, the ability to utilize public spaces free from harassment and other issues identified by community members.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Dane County form a Homeless Issues Committee to explore issues of homelessness and their relationship to community service providers and resources within Dane County including, among other issues, public access to restrooms, showers, laundry, third party complaint systems, access to daytime storage of personal belongings, the ability to utilize public spaces free from harassment and other issues identified by community members, and this committee shall consist of three (3) members of the Homeless Services Consortium, three (3) city of Madison Alders, four (4) County Board supervisors, three (3) currently or formerly homeless persons who have used Dane County homeless services and one (1) member of the Madison Police Department and be staffed by a representative of Dane County Human Services and a representative of the City of Madison Community Development Division.
