MADISON, WI – Yesterday, Senators Dianne Hesselbein and Jamie Wall held a press conference to make it clear Wisconsin Republicans are responsible for the closing of the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program facilities in Chippewa Falls and Green Bay, as well as the cuts in funding and loss of staff for the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program.
Governor Evers and Senate Democrats supported funding the housing facilities during this summer’s budget negotiations, as well as proposing a stand-alone piece of legislation to keep the facilities open. Republicans in Madison voted to close the doors and to turn their backs on homeless veterans. Additionally, Republicans supported cutting the funding to the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program, resulting in fewer resources and trained professionals dedicated to our veterans struggling with addiction.
Outlets across the state are talking about how Wisconsin Republicans are responsible for the closing of these facilities and the funding cuts to to the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program, Read more:
Wisconsin Examiner: Cuts to two Wisconsin veterans programs officially take effect this month
- “The Veterans Housing and Recovery Program (VHRP) is closing two of its locations, one in Chippewa Falls and the other in Green Bay, and the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP), which serves veterans dealing with mental health and substance use issues and aims to reduce the suicide rate among veterans, is set to lose seven positions.”
- “Democratic lawmakers, led by Hesselbein and Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa), introduced a bill to provide funding for the VORP positions, but it hasn’t received a hearing in the Republican-led Legislature. No Republican lawmakers have signed on to it, nor have they introduced their own version that would provide the funding.”
- “A separate bill, authored by Wall, Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) and Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Clare), would provide the necessary funding for the VHRP sites. It previously would have provided $1.9 million, but an amendment to the legislation increases that to $2.6 million, which, Wall said, would be necessary to restart the programs.”
- “My disappointment is with the leadership of legislative Republicans that has not made this program, has not made that bill, has not made homeless veterans a priority over the last few months,” Wall said. “They’ve run out the clock until here we are on Sept. 30, with the funding going away now. It’s possible to revive these programs… but it’s going to take a little bit more money and a lot more time. In the best case, we’re looking at next fall before we can stand up these programs again.”
Spectrum News 1: ‘This is not partisan finger-pointing’: The push for funding continues after 2 transitional living centers for veterans close in Wisconsin
- “Democrats, however, doubled down as money for the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program (VHRP) came to an end on Sept. 30. Not only did they renew their push to restore funds to reopen those centers, but lawmakers also called for supporting legislation that would provide the money needed for staff and resources as part of the state’s Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP).”
Wisconsin Public Radio: Veteran transitional housing programs in Chippewa Falls, Green Bay close doors
- “Gov. Tony Evers included the additional funding in his proposed budget, but it was pulled by the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee. An unexpected budget deal struck between Evers, Republicans and Democrats in the state Legislature also didn’t include the veteran housing funding. During debate on the Senate floor, Democrats tried to include additional funding with an amendment, which was rejected by all but one Republican.”
- “During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein, D-Middleton, said the closures fall squarely on Republicans’ shoulders. She said the presser wasn’t about “partisan finger pointing,” but rather “just stating the facts of the timeline, which led us to where we are today.” Hesselbein also said restoring the veteran housing program funding was included in the state budget negotiations she was part of.”
- “Rest assured, in a couple of years when I’m the (state Senate) majority leader, these kinds of antics won’t be tolerated in a Democratic majority,” Hesselbein said. “But unfortunately, while that day is on the horizon, it’s not here yet, and it’s not where we are today.”
WQOW News 18: Klein Hall veterans home in Chippewa Falls closes; the fight over funding continues
- “We can get this done, we are willing to work together, not only that, we want to work together,” said Democrat senate minority leader Dianne Hesselbein. “Unfortunately, it’s the Republicans decision to vote these efforts down, to close these facilities, and turn their backs on Wisconsin veterans.”
WAOW News 9: State funding runs out for homes that support homeless veterans in Wisconsin
- “Two facilities that support homeless veterans in Wisconsin have now closed because their state funding has run out.”
- “My disappointment is with the leadership of legislative Republicans that have not made this bill, the program, homeless veterans a priority. And here we are September 30 with the funding going away,” Wall said during a press call with reporters.”
WBAY News 2: Green Bay, Chippewa Falls Veterans Housing & Recovery facilities closed on Tuesday
- “Governor Evers provided funding for both of these facilities in his budget, and I was proud and happy to support that funding. I was disappointed when the republican majority and the Joint Finance Committee unanimously stripped that funding out,” State Senator Jamie Wall said.”
Leader-Telegraph: State Democratic leaders discuss closure of veteran homeless campuses
- “Hesselbein noted that Gov. Tony Evers had $1.9 million for the shelters in the state budget, but Republicans stripped it from the measure. Democrats tried on several occasions to get the funding restored, but Republicans didn’t support it. She also noted that U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) didn’t seek federal aid.”
- “We are here, fighting for veterans. We were ready to vote for this in Joint Finance, we were ready to vote for it on the floor. But unfortunately, it was Republicans’ decision to vote these bills down.”
- “Wall said it means there will be 41 fewer beds for homeless veterans this winter. He noted that a Democratic amendment was offered on the floor of the Senate, and all but one Republican voted it down.”
WKOW News 27: State funding runs out for homes that support homeless veterans in Wisconsin
- “Funding for the centers was originally included in the state budget proposed by Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), but Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee removed it. Democrats put the funding in a budget amendment, but that was rejected. Senator Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay) also proposed a standalone bill to restore the funding, but it didn’t pass.”
