The Wisconsin Interagency Council on Homelessness is offering an action plan that could be the state’s most coordinated attempt to prevent and curtail homelessness.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the action plan employs a Housing First model, which puts chronically homeless people into permanent housing with support services and without the precondition of having no addictions or convictions.
The plan also emphasizes case management, which is linked to better housing outcomes, better physical and mental health, decreased substance abuse, better re-entry to society and decreased cost of emergency responses.
The council is calling for an additional $3.75 million in spending, as well as collaboration between the state, school districts, nonprofits and the private sector.
The plan says almost 22,000 homeless people last year received services from Wisconsin agencies.
