United Way kicks off Homelessness Awareness Week in Milwaukee, Waukesha counties

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- As the temperatures outside begin to drop, efforts to find shelter for the homeless populations in Milwaukee and Waukesha County are already well underway.

"We do not shy away from the big community issues," said Amy Lindner, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. "We know the work that needs to be done, and we know it can only be accomplished when we bring people together."

Lindner was joined Monday by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as well as other community leaders to discuss the efforts combating homelessness in the region while kicking off Homelessness Awareness Week.

"By the time I was a sophomore in high school, we had been evicted at least three times," explained County Executive Crowley. "That had a deep impact on my brothers and I growing up."

County Executive Crowley says those personal experiences make him passionate about the issue of homelessness in our community today.

"I understand the impact that this has on families," Crowley said. "We want to make sure that families, individuals put their best foot forward. If I don't know where I'm going to lay my head that night, how can I focus on school? If I don't know where I'm going to lay my head at night, how do I know where my next hot meal's going to come from?"

The city of Milwaukee leads the Milwaukee Continuum of Care (CoC), which is a network of over 100 organizations working to end homelessness in Milwaukee. Those organizations include Milwaukee County Housing Division, IMPACT 2-1-1, homelessness providers and United Way.

The efforts have been working with a 46.3% decrease in homelessness in Milwaukee from 2015 to 2021. Still, 817 individuals are left homeless on any given night in Milwaukee County, while Waukesha County has 146 individuals facing homelessness, 42% of that number consisting of families.

"Across the past five years, an average of 237 students faced homelessness or severe housing instability in the Waukesha School District," Mayor Shawn Reilly said. "Children that are homeless really impacts their lives."

Efforts have been taking place to address homelessness in Waukesha County, including a remodel of the Waukesha Overflow Shelter in 2022. The shelter now includes 40 beds, an updated kitchen and relaxation space for guests and office space for staff.

In Milwaukee, Mayor Johnson says efforts are underway to try and bring millions of dollars in funding to the city to help combat homelessness.

"The city of Milwaukee is applying for a special HUD Continuum of Care grant that could potentially bring over $15-million; $15-million into our community to help with our unsheltered population here in Milwaukee," Mayor Johnson said. "We're working to bring resources home to Milwaukee, to our community to address the issue of homelessness here."

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) defines ending family homelessness as preventing homelessness whenever possible, and when it cannot be prevented, making it a rare, brief and one-time experience. Lindler says with community support, the goal is to have Milwaukee be the first U.S. city to end family homelessness by the end of 2023.

"Ending family homelessness may sound impossible," Lindler said. "It is not."

The following events are taking place this week for Homelessness Awareness Week:

Street Outreach Panel

• Tuesday, Oct. 18,
• 1 - 2 p.m.
• Virtual event: Zoom - Register here: https://unitedwaygmwc.org/Homelessness-Awareness-Week
• Description: What do street outreach workers do to support people sleeping on the street? What is the right thing to do when you see someone experiencing homelessness? Find out at this panel discussion from experts, including the Homeless Outreach Nursing Center (HONC), Outreach Community Health Centers, Street Life Ministries, Veterans Affairs, Milwaukee County Housing Services, and Impact. This free virtual event is open to the public.

Landlord Appreciation Event

• Oct. 19
• 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Virtual event: Zoom - Register here: https://unitedwaygmwc.org/Homelessness-Awareness-Week
• Description: Milwaukee agencies will highlight programs that work alongside landlords in the fight to end homelessness. Two awards will be presented to outstanding landlords that have gone above and beyond in supporting our community. Are you a property owner or manager that is interested in taking on tenants with housing vouchers? Come to this even to ask questions directly to the administrators of supportive programs. This free virtual event is open to the public.

Homelessness Advocacy Event

• Oct. 20
• 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Virtual event: Zoom - Register here: https://unitedwaygmwc.org/Homelessness-Awareness-Week
• Description: How you can use your voice to advocate for ending homelessness? Come to this event and find out from leaders in the field. We’ll celebrate an outstanding advocate and hear their story. This free virtual event is open to the public.

For more information on the Milwaukee Continuum of Care (CoC) and to sign up for our newsletter, visit: www.milwaukeecoc.org.

For more information on the decrease of homelessness in Milwaukee, visit: http://www.housingfirstmilwaukee.com/.

For more information on United Way’s initiative to end family homelessness by 2023, visit: https://www.unitedwaygmwc.org/Safe-and-Stable-Homes.