Madison, like other cities throughout the nation, is facing a growing homeless population. Solutions to the problem are hard to find.
Ald. Todd Jarrell, District 8, is one of many people working on ways to address the needs of Madison’s homeless community.
“Homelessness or the risk of homelessness is one of the most important concerns in the city of Madison,” Jarrell said. “There are many people that are living from paycheck to paycheck — an illness, loss of a job due to a layoff because of the faltering economy, etc., can easily lead to homelessness.”
During the economic boom in the mid- to late ’90s, homelessness in the area, as well as the nation, became less of a problem.
However, Madison and other areas around the country are now faced with an increase in homeless populations.
“In statistics in the months even prior to the large downturn after Sept. 11, we have seen a dramatic increase in homelessness,” Jarrell said. “Especially in the last six months.”
Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, who works at the Tenant Resource Center, said an average of 15 families a day are being turned away from the center because of limited resources.
“We don’t have enough places for them to sleep,” Konkel said. “And we’re trying to send them to churches and other places, but there just aren’t enough places for them to go.”
Konkel said the main reason for homelessness in the area is eviction, which stems from not being able to afford housing around Madison.
“Right now . . . even at the lower end of the rent spectrum, a one-bedroom apartment would require you to work about 65 hours a week at minimum wage,” Jarrell said. “One of the fundamental needs of homeless people in Madison is the creation of more affordable housing.”
What both Jarrell and Konkel are hoping for is inclusionary zoning ordinances, which would require every new development to include a certain percentage of affordable housing.
“Thousands of new units are being built every year, and almost none are going to those who need it the most,” Konkel said. “If we had an inclusionary building, hundreds of those units could be affordable.”
Another possibility for assistance has been suggested by Ald. Tom Powell, District 5, such as an increase in the number of motel vouchers.
Vouchers are given to the homeless when area shelters have reached capacity, allowing families to spend the night in a local motel rather than in cars or on the streets.
However, vouchers can be hard to come by.
“Over the last few years, the number of available vouchers has been almost cut in half,” Powell said.
“We always see the greatest increase in the homeless population after lease turnovers Aug. 15,” Powell said. “It’s been a traditional pattern, and we’ve been inept in our ability to help it. We need to increase our shelter space to keep up with the increasing population.”
Powell stresses the need for raising awareness about homelessness.
“We always hear about the homeless in late November, and then it disappears for another year,” Powell said. “Homelessness is a year-round problem.”
All three alders encourage residents, especially UW-Madison students, to get involved in the process.
“Apply to city committees, work with the Hunger and Homeless Campaign, lobby city/county/state/federal representatives, show up and testify at city and county meetings in favor of measures to help end homelessness,” Jarrell said.
“We need student involvement to keep homelessness in the news, keep it fresh, keep the attention on it,” Powell said.
“The test of any civilized society is to care for our weakest members, those who have the most critical basic needs,” Powell said. “If we can’t meet the needs of our homeless, what sort of civilized society do we live in?”
