Contact: Representative Joel Kitchens
(608) 266-5350
Madison– State Representative Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) released the following statement regarding the package of bills Assembly Republicans released to combat homelessness:
“Earlier this week my colleagues, Representative Steineke, Representative Snyder, Representative Rodriguez, and Representative Pronschinske, introduced four bills aimed at addressing homelessness in Wisconsin. Highlighted in the Assembly Republican Forward Agenda, Assembly Republicans kept their promise in working towards our effort to end homelessness.”
The series of bills brought forward aim to accomplish several goals. First, to create an Interagency Council on Homelessness. The makeup of this council will be made up of representatives from state agencies, organizations that provide homelessness services and a designee appointed by Governor Walker.
Second, under the power of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, a pilot program designed to prioritize chronically homeless people on the waitlist for general housing vouchers.
Third, allow the Department of Administration to award grants up to $75,000, to municipalities to help resolve employment issues for homeless individuals.
Fourth, remove restrictions on money allocated to transitional housing and eliminate the requirement that the Department of Administration reasonably balance grants and loans related to affordable housing among geographic areas of the state.
“Homelessness is an issue that affects people on both sides of the aisle and is an issue for both urban and rural regions. I thank my colleagues for their leadership on these issues and I look forward to continuing to work on combating and addressing homelessness.”
