Support for Our Homeless

In a recent letter to a local paper, a writer objected to a recent proposal that will give our police department $400,000 in American Rescue Plan funding. This funding proposal, unanimously approved by the Wausau City Council, earmarks money, available until December 31, 2026, to expand services to our area’s homeless population. The police department currently employs just one full time experienced individual to do outreach to this population.  There is no mandate as the writer suggests that ensuing ‘costs are sacred and will continue forever’ as a burden on city taxpayers.

Many citizens throughout our city and county have long been concerned about the people in our area who do not have permanent housing and whose personal situations are varied and complex, requiring a range of services. Recently Marathon County and the City of Wausau have partnered to create a public – private task force to explore the dynamics and potential solutions to the challenges this group of citizens both faces and presents to the community at large. The American Rescue Plan funding will enable efforts to set and realize goals yet to be fully laid out or achieved. It will also offer two years of lead time for a private – public effort to pursue funding opportunities that will not burden taxpayers. 

It is money that in both the short and long term we cannot afford to reject.

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