Speaker says La Crosse homelessness can end in 3-5 years

Community members met Tues. to talk housing the homeless.

If you can get a homeless person into permanent housing, that could help solve some of the problems which made them homeless in the first place.

Homelessness consultant Erin Healy says providing housing first can sharply reduce other expenses for people who have lived on the street and gives them stability.

Tuesday, Healy told an audience at Myrick Park in La Crosse that the community could eliminate homelessness in a fairly short time.

“Really, I don’t think it’s crazy to suggest that it’s possible to end all homelessness here within 3-5 years with this kind of focus,” she said.

Members of the community met at Myrick to hear La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and representatives of service groups talk of ways to help the homeless obtain housing and help themselves become more productive.

A year ago, Healy came to La Crosse to challenge the city to get homeless people into housing. In that year, Tent City has been removed and 16 homeless veterans were all placed in housing.

Healy said “local heroes” have made a lot of progress toward getting people into homes in the past year. 

In the Myrick audience was one man named Rick, who said he got sober and found housing, because he was ready to improve his situation.

“I woke up every morning pissed off that I woke up,” he said. “Today, I have a license, I have a vehicle, I have insurance on a vehicle.”

Healy says finding housing for the homeless and getting them access to important services can do a lot to keep those people from living on the streets.