By Beth Bennett
Executive Director
Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Newspaper outlets from across Wisconsin are coming together to once again report on the plight of the homeless in Wisconsin.

In 2019 more than 30 news outlets reported on the state of homelessness in Wisconsin.

The content from the reporting which was circulated by the Associated Press appeared in newspapers across the country.

The homelessness reporting project spearheaded by the newspapers of Multi Media Channels and the Wisconsin State Journal is once again challenging Wisconsin’s newspapers to tell the story of the states homeless.

This year’s reporting will mark the upcoming World Homeless Day Oct. 10 by continuing the conversation about the on-going challenges faced by the homeless.

In 2019 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported 4,358 homeless living throughout Wisconsin.

This upcoming reporting could see that number change due to the financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on many Wisconsinites.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition has responded to the COVID housing crisis by highlighting the need for a broad array of resources and protections for those who may be facing eviction including emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention assistance.

The coalition is also calling for emergency funds for homelessness service providers, housing authorities, and housing providers.

Financial giving opportunities are available in Wisconsin for anyone who would like to assist the efforts of those supporting the homeless.

In order to facilitate contributions to the homelessness effort a Wisconsin Media Supporting Homelessness GoFundMe page has been established by Multi Media Channels.

Contributions to Wisconsin Media Supporting Homelessness will be distributed by Multi Media Channels via Wisconsin’s Continuum of Care which is a non-profit organization representing county providers throughout the State of Wisconsin.

The Continuum of Care is comprised of agencies who serve, support and care about those experiencing homelessness.

Through the Continuum of Care hundreds of agencies throughout Wisconsin coordinate resources to provide all manner of services for the homeless – including street outreach, case management, emergency sheltering, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, housing navigation and ultimately permanent housing.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association salutes the work of the homelessness reporting project and the efforts of its members to support the homeless of the State of Wisconsin.