Milwaukee Co. sees lowest homeless population per capita in 2022, but specialists say number is on the rise
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In 2022, Milwaukee County witnessed a great achievement, it was considered to have the lowest per capita homeless population in the nation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officials said the need is still very much there.
Last Friday, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley did a ride-along with the homeless outreach team for the Milwaukee County Housing Services.
"There are people who are really struggling. We have many individuals in our community that are vulnerable," said Crowley.
Crowley said despite Milwaukee's achievement last year, there's still plenty of help that's still needed.
"It's great to be recognized of having the lowest unsheltered homeless population per capita in the country, but it doesn't mean we need to be content of where we are," said Crowley.
Crowley, along with Stephanie Nowak of Milwaukee County Housing Services, set out through Milwaukee to provide basic needs for the people living on the streets.
"On the streets today, we probably have between 70 and 100 people," said Nowak.
For Crowley, it’s a matter that hits close to home. He shared that him and his family were once homeless, his mother not being able to afford rent.
"You know it wasn’t that she didn't want to pay rent it was the fact that she wasn't getting enough hours to actually pay rent, so you know we were evicted from 22nd and Vine, evicted from 24th and Lloyd, evicted from 29th and Walnut," said Crowley.
Organizations like the Street Angels said, although the number of the homeless population was low in 2022, the numbers overall are rising.
"Numbers are definitely up from a couple years prior. We're probably seeing more people outside this winter than we have in several years," said Eva Welch, executive co-director of the Street Angels.
Eva Welch
The Street Angels are a mobile outreach organization that feeds and clothes the homeless.
Welch blames the rise on the extinction of a hotel program that would house unsheltered folks during the pandemic. She suggests the city should focus on making enough space for those in need of a roof over their heads.
"In the meantime...we need a shelter reform or look at the shelter space and just making sure we have enough space for people to go," said Welch.
Crowley said it's going to take all hands-on deck to make a difference.
"Milwaukee County can't do this alone so whether it's our partnerships, local municipalities, partnerships with the state of Wisconsin and you know non- profits. We have to figure out how do we get more affordable units out into the market," said Crowley.
Crowley credits the low numbers we saw in 2022 to the efforts of the city's Housing First initiative that started in 2015. Since then, Milwaukee County said there's been a 90% decrease in unsheltered homelessness.