Despite 2018 boasting one of the strongest U.S. economies in decades, the number of homeless individuals remained largely unchanged, according to the latest national estimates by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD`s Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found 552,830 people experienced homelessness on a single night in 2018. That is an increase of 0.3 percent since last year.
In Wisconsin, an estimated 4,907 people are homeless — 92 percent of which are in a shelter — according to the report. That is a 2.4 percent decrease from 2017. The number of homeless individuals is down in Wisconsin 22.5 percent from 2010, according to HUD`s snapshot report.
Ken Notes: As long as we use the same programs we have always uses we will always have the same problem. We need to use new strategies and new inventory. I would like to see a serious effort to use micro homes and micro apartments to house the most needy. Units that cost 10K to stick build could offer a safe place to sleep while providing a real incentive to do better. This would address the most needy and least likely to find traditional low income housing. Also creating an ownership opportunity would create some additional incentives.
The current affordable housing scenario provides landlords the opportunity to cherry pick tenants and gives tenants little incentive to improve their lot once housed. It is a cycle that does little address the real problem.
I would point to Habitat for Humanity International -- an independent, nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry as a model of what can be done. Imagine building five thousand micro units in the state -- problem solved. Oh and you can`t use Habitat because they will not even take public money...
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- - Volume: 7 - WEEK: 1 Date: 1/3/2019 9:46:26 AM -