1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000
You

2
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000
You

3
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,000
You

4
00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,000
You

5
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000
You

6
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000
You

7
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,000
You

8
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,000
You

9
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,000
You

10
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,000
You

11
00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,000
You

12
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,000
Over one night this week Wisconsin volunteers

13
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,000
Fanned out to find the number of people

14
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,000
Experiencing homelessness in what's called

15
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,000
A point in time count.

16
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,000
There are some 5,000 people without shelter in the state and

17
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,000
Now 10 counties in northeast Wisconsin are scrambling to

18
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,000
Find places for people to stay after a nonprofit provider

19
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000
Of homeless services abruptly closed due to bankruptcy.

20
00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,000
An organization called the balance of state continuum of

21
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,000
Care which covers 69 counties in Wisconsin is rushing

22
00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,000
In to respond along with state agencies and other programs.

23
00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,000
Balance of state homeless systems manager Ryan Graham joins us

24
00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,000
Now.

25
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,000
Ryan thanks very much for being here.

26
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,000
Yeah thank you for having me.

27
00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,000
So how many people served by the bankrupt provider of

28
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,000
Services are at risk of homelessness in those 10

29
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,000
Counties?

30
00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,000
Well you know I think

31
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,000
There was 134 households that were served in

32
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,000
The direct homeless housing programs that we were

33
00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,000
We were able to

34
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,000
Maintain housing for it but there's a significant amount of

35
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,000
Homeless folks still in that community that are in need of

36
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,000
Housing and

37
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,000
You know that lack of

38
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000
Services and that closing of that agency

39
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000
Really creates a gap in institutional knowledge that creates

40
00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,000
A gap in process and systems and

41
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,000
All the things that were established there

42
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,000
You know and looking for resources and re-establishing

43
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,000
That is going to take

44
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,000
A considerable amount of effort

45
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,000
Just stepping back at the whole picture is the number of

46
00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,000
People in Wisconsin experiencing homelessness on the rise?

47
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,000
I would say yes.

48
00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,000
You know we just did our point in time count Wednesday

49
00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000
We are in the process of our post pit count

50
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000
Meaning we still up for a week after our point in time count

51
00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,000
We are still looking to engage and

52
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,000
Identify those folks who are connecting with

53
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,000
Services in that week prior to the council

54
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,000
We can include those folks

55
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,000
And so the data is not out yet

56
00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,000
But you know

57
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,000
We haven't fixed the housing problem

58
00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,000
We haven't fixed the lack of

59
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,000
Services problems so

60
00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,000
An affordability of living

61
00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,000
Just in general has not gotten any better

62
00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,000
So yeah I do expect

63
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,000
The housing problem to increase

64
00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,000
Not decrease

65
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,000
Because how important is that kind of point in time count

66
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,000
Toward understanding the needs out there

67
00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,000
It's very important

68
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000
You know it's really our only data point that includes

69
00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000
Folks that we are engaging with that are sleeping on

70
00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,000
Outside so unsheltered

71
00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,000
Our place is not meant for habitation

72
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,000
Folks that are sheltered engage with housing programs

73
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,000
But also our DV population

74
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,000
And so while

75
00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,000
We

76
00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,000
Obviously do not locate everybody

77
00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,000
Who's experiencing homelessness in that night or the week prior

78
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,000
We're really comfortable saying it's at minimum

79
00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,000
This is what our homeless problem is

80
00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,000
And it's a good place to see

81
00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:26,000
See trends right because of the structure and the way that's been set up consistently for years

82
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,000
It's a really good data point to look at trends and how

83
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,000
Homelessness is and how we're responding to homelessness in Wisconsin

84
00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:40,000
Is there enough state federal and other funding to cover resources needed for this work?

85
00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,000
Not even remote

86
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,000
We are really working hard to do as much as we can

87
00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:50,000
With pennies of what we need to do the work

88
00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,000
And that takes a collaborative effort

89
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,000
So we work hard in all of our counties

90
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,000
You know really to build that collaboration

91
00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,000
And work together to try and problem solve and figure out solutions

92
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,000
For people experiencing homelessness

93
00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000
As to federal funding

94
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000
That point in time count I understand is used to apply for federal grants

95
00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,000
For housing services

96
00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:18,000
What kind of uncertainty in that federal funding is there right now?

97
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,000
Yeah, I mean I think there's a significant amount of uncertainty

98
00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000
You know I think you know looking at the federal COC program

99
00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,000
Through HUD you know they're looking at making significant changes

100
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:34,000
Away from permanent supportive housing programs

101
00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,000
That we know to be affected

102
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,000
And moving more towards transitional

103
00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,000
Non-permanent supportive housing

104
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,000
Permanent housing or permanent housing efforts

105
00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:48,000
You know so I think that's a significant change

106
00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,000
Without protecting the folks that were already housed in these programs

107
00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,000
And so there's a significant shift

108
00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,000
That is going to provide I think a lot of housing and security

109
00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,000
For folks who were previously homeless

110
00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,000
Now are securely housed

111
00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,000
And we don't know what that's going to look like

112
00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,000
Here moving forward

113
00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,000
So there's a lot of uncertainty that way

114
00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,000
We leave it there Ryan Graham

115
00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,000
Thanks very much

116
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,000
Yeah, happy soon

117
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,000
For more on this and other issues facing Wisconsin

118
00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,000
Visit our website at pbswisconsin.org

119
00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,000
And then click on the news tab

120
00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,000
That's our program for tonight

121
00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,000
I'm Frederica Fryberg, have a good weekend

122
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,000
Thank you

123
00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,000
It's too bad

124
00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:42,000
Yeah, well thank you for your work