Help for homeless needed amid pandemic

It is an obvious sign of the effects of the pandemic. The homeless, crowding into shelters and city parks. With the pandemic savaging the economy and destroying jobs, the ranks of the homeless are rising in Wisconsin. It is evident in La Crosse, where a growing number of people are spending their days and nights in Cameron Park downtown. This setback comes after significant efforts in our community to house the homeless. The local Collaborative to end homelessness has in recent years worked hard to find housing for those without homes. Before the pandemic, every homeless veteran in La Crosse was found suitable housing. A new north-side apartment was built specifically to house homeless military veterans. But those gains are being eroded by the pandemic, and it is becoming increasingly common for the homeless, some with small children, to seek shelter in homeless camps. That is why the state needs to step up to tackle this growing problem. Among the ideas of the Wisconsin Coalition to end Homelessness is more services, creating more low-income housing, and finding jobs for the homeless. Our government has taken steps to help small businesses, and the unemployed. Now they need to make sure the least fortunate among us also get the help they need.