Recession Increasing Homeless Problem In Dane County
Officials Began Initiative To End Homeless Years Ago
Updated: 7:18 am CDT April 21, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The sagging economy is creating a dramatic increase in homelessness in Dane County, sinking local attempts to combat the problem.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportLast year, the area's homeless population increased more than 15 percent above 2007 statistics. According to the city's Community Development Block Grant office, the estimated homeless population increased 17 percent in 2008 to more than 7,500. This is the largest estimated population since 2003, WISC-TV reported.Officials said that the number of people served by county shelters rose 13.5 percent, but shelters turned away more than 3,600 people -- a 22-percent increase. The number of children in homeless shelters also rose 55 percent, which is the highest level in a decade.Many of those who spend their waking hours working on the homeless problem they're disturbed by the numbers. They said that a multi-agency effort to eradicate homelessness in Dane County is paying off, but others believe the problem will get a whole lot worse before it gets better.Barb Lindsay, director of social services at Salvation Army in Dane County, said that she sees it all at the main shelter on East Washington Avenue in Madison."People are coming in. They had jobs, they don't have jobs now or they just can't get a job. It's getting harder and harder," she said.On Monday night, she said a single women and families will fill the mattresses at the Salvation Army spreading out in small bedrooms, a gym and a hallway floor that represents the new, year-round warming shelter.The emergency shelter is full and there's a waiting list, but Linsday said she believes what the county is seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg because of the tumbling national economy."We'll be able to hit the tip of the iceberg. Right now, we go a little farther down in the iceberg, but it's going to get a lot worse," she said. "I would say that within a couple years, this is going to be a really tough situation. I don't think it'll be manageable that much."Lindsay said that she has worked for Salvation Amy since the 1980s. She predicts Dane County will soon be home to many of those now living in cars or tent cities in California because of the recession.If so, it will only exacerbate a complex local problem that's suddenly back to levels not seen in six years, WISC-TV reported.Deedra Atkinson, of the United Way of Dane County, said they're also alarmed by the statistics."We're very concerned about (the numbers)," Atkinson said. "To see that homeless families' numbers are up is of great concern to us."A few years ago, the United Way teamed up with city and county officials to eradicate homelessness in 10 years. They said that strategies to keep or quickly get families in permanent housing have paid off. Dane County's homeless population was falling for four years until last year when the national economy faltered and companies started slashing jobs."We don't have any reason to believe that these families are families that have been foreclosed on," Atkinson said. "They appear to be families out of rental situations so therefore, something has happened to them economically that they're not able to pay their rent."The numbers show the vast majority of homeless people are not from out of town, but from the county or state. Many have mental health problems and over 35 percent are homeless due to domestic violence, officials said.United Way officials said that they're all distressed even though they note some of the increase is due to factors like a warming shelter staying open all year long verses three months.Significant funds are being set aside to tackle the homelessness problem. The United Way has set aside $500,000 this year to move 45 families into stable, permanent housing. Dane county spends about $3.5 million on homeless-related services and the city next year will spend $262,000 -- a 50-percent hike over this year. In addition, Madison is set to get more than $800,000 in federal stimulus funding for eviction prevention, WISC-TV reported.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportLast year, the area's homeless population increased more than 15 percent above 2007 statistics. According to the city's Community Development Block Grant office, the estimated homeless population increased 17 percent in 2008 to more than 7,500. This is the largest estimated population since 2003, WISC-TV reported.Officials said that the number of people served by county shelters rose 13.5 percent, but shelters turned away more than 3,600 people -- a 22-percent increase. The number of children in homeless shelters also rose 55 percent, which is the highest level in a decade.Many of those who spend their waking hours working on the homeless problem they're disturbed by the numbers. They said that a multi-agency effort to eradicate homelessness in Dane County is paying off, but others believe the problem will get a whole lot worse before it gets better.Barb Lindsay, director of social services at Salvation Army in Dane County, said that she sees it all at the main shelter on East Washington Avenue in Madison."People are coming in. They had jobs, they don't have jobs now or they just can't get a job. It's getting harder and harder," she said.On Monday night, she said a single women and families will fill the mattresses at the Salvation Army spreading out in small bedrooms, a gym and a hallway floor that represents the new, year-round warming shelter.The emergency shelter is full and there's a waiting list, but Linsday said she believes what the county is seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg because of the tumbling national economy."We'll be able to hit the tip of the iceberg. Right now, we go a little farther down in the iceberg, but it's going to get a lot worse," she said. "I would say that within a couple years, this is going to be a really tough situation. I don't think it'll be manageable that much."Lindsay said that she has worked for Salvation Amy since the 1980s. She predicts Dane County will soon be home to many of those now living in cars or tent cities in California because of the recession.If so, it will only exacerbate a complex local problem that's suddenly back to levels not seen in six years, WISC-TV reported.Deedra Atkinson, of the United Way of Dane County, said they're also alarmed by the statistics."We're very concerned about (the numbers)," Atkinson said. "To see that homeless families' numbers are up is of great concern to us."A few years ago, the United Way teamed up with city and county officials to eradicate homelessness in 10 years. They said that strategies to keep or quickly get families in permanent housing have paid off. Dane County's homeless population was falling for four years until last year when the national economy faltered and companies started slashing jobs."We don't have any reason to believe that these families are families that have been foreclosed on," Atkinson said. "They appear to be families out of rental situations so therefore, something has happened to them economically that they're not able to pay their rent."The numbers show the vast majority of homeless people are not from out of town, but from the county or state. Many have mental health problems and over 35 percent are homeless due to domestic violence, officials said.United Way officials said that they're all distressed even though they note some of the increase is due to factors like a warming shelter staying open all year long verses three months.Significant funds are being set aside to tackle the homelessness problem. The United Way has set aside $500,000 this year to move 45 families into stable, permanent housing. Dane county spends about $3.5 million on homeless-related services and the city next year will spend $262,000 -- a 50-percent hike over this year. In addition, Madison is set to get more than $800,000 in federal stimulus funding for eviction prevention, WISC-TV reported.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage. Copyright 2009 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
