MADISON – Today, Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) and Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) held a press conference to highlight the state of poverty in Wisconsin and is a precursor to future legislation to tackle poverty and homelessness. The most recent data on poverty comes from the report Tracking the COVID-19 Economy’s Effects on Food, Housing, and Employment Hardships. Rep. Subeck and Sen. Smith were joined by Brad Paul, the Executive Director of WISCAP; George Hinton, Board President of WISCAP; Michael Jahn, a veteran and CAC client from Madison; and Annie Culver, owner of Annie’s Fountain Café in Fond du Lac.
Rep. Lisa Subeck: “Too many Wisconsinites live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet. Despite their best efforts, our cities, counties, schools, and service organizations struggle to meet the needs of families, seniors, and disabled individuals living in poverty. Due to the scarce resources and strain on current organizations that fight poverty, Senator Smith and I look forward to introducing comprehensive legislation to address immediate and long term solutions to end poverty in our state.”
Sen. Jeff Smith: “I appreciate the work of the numerous organizations already involved in this effort to support our rural communities and Representative Lisa Subeck’s leadership on this issue. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues, community advocates, and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive legislative package designed to aid communities in the fight against poverty. We have a lot of work to do, but I’m feeling encouraged and inspired that we can make a difference.”
WISCAP Executive Director Brad Paul: “WISCAP and the statewide network of Community Action Agencies supports the emerging package of legislative proposals to battle poverty in Wisconsin. We are there with you as a resource and partner every step of the way.”
