Community discussion today on La Crosse’s homeless

Tent City’s evacuation will be part of the discussion.

The spark for La Crosse’s recent drive to end homelessness returns to the city today.

Consultant Erin Healy will take part in a community event to discuss the efforts to end homelessness that started with a talk she gave in the city one year ago.

Since then, a collaborative for groups has moved homeless veterans off the street and is now working on another group. Possible anywhere, says Healy, if groups work together.

“One of the biggest challenges in any community, you may have dozens and dozens of organizations all trying to solve the same problem but not working together as a team,” she said.

The recent evacuation of Tent City north of Riverside Park will be part of the conversation at Healy’s talk tonight.

Healy says she often uses the message that ending homelessness is actually a lot cheaper than paying for the costs of homelessness. But her first argument is a little simpler.

“Do you want to live in a community where you have people sleeping on park benches?” she asked. “Probably not. Do you want to have to explain to your kids, why is that guy sleeping in a sleeping bag in the park?”

Healy said she’s impressed with the progress La Crosse has made in that time.

“La Crosse has been an amazingly responsive community,” she said. “A lot of smart, compassionate people. A lot of resources. 

“I really do think the mind set shift is starting and now the system is starting to shift.”

That system shift, she says, will move the city to more of a preventive system for homelessness rather than a crisis response system to the issue.

EVENT: Community Conversation on Ending Homelessness
WHEN: 5-6 p.m. today.
WHERE: Myrick Park Eco–Center (Marshview Room), 789 Myrick Park Drive.
SPEAKERS: La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat, Erin Healy (National Advocate and Consultant) and the La Crosse Collaborative to End Homelessness.