asane

To speak out and raise awareness for those living with homelessness

Online Niel November 2, 2024

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – November may be well known for the start of the holiday season, but it also brings awareness of something bigger – homelessness.

An event at the Community Partners Campus in Wausau is giving people a chance to learn and share their stories.

High inflation, the after-effects of COVID and the impact on mental health were just some of the things brought up when talking about the rise in homelessness.

While you may think of homelessness in the here and now, it’s actually been happening for far too long in central Wisconsin.

“The number of people experiencing homelessness is the highest we’ve seen since 2012, and the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness is the highest we’ve seen since 2010 ,” said Mike Basford of the WI Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Personal experiences and concerns were shared at the Wausau event. Rep. Pat Snyder (R-Schofield) was there to tell us about an old friend who was once out of a home.

“I had a gentleman a few years ago whom I knew very well. He had his own business, but unfortunately he was a compulsive gambler. He lost his family, he lost his business and he was homeless,” Rep. Snyder said.

He mentioned how much he deals with mental health, even referring to his time working with former Congressman Sean Duffy.

“We looked at a model that was done in the state of Utah and actually picked up by Milwaukee, and that’s Housing First,” Rep. Snyder said.

Housing first helps identify the causes behind homelessness. While Rep. Snyder was able to provide insight into what lawmakers do, others explained their own experiences. Including Katelyn Abbott, board member for State youth action report.

“I found myself homeless in a hotel with my mother. My mom went through a bad divorce, we lost our house, and when I was staying at the hotel going into my freshman year of high school, it was kind of like, ‘What do we do now?'” Abbott said. .

She says her experience allowed her to find resources and connect with others in similar positions. Even giving himself a chance to make his voice heard at events like these.