MONROE - According to Green County Human Services personnel, the number of homeless individuals and families has risen to a level they've never seen before.
Jeannie Blumer, supervisor at the Green County Human Services Economic Support Department, said her department sees an average of one to three homeless families with children each week, and between one and five homeless individuals each week.
In a newly completed report by Green County Human Services, a total of 112 unduplicated households were homeless or near homeless in Green County.
Of the 55 homeless households, 65 were adults and 63 were children.
There were 57 near-homeless unduplicated households, with 76 adults and 83 children.
"It is important to note that these statistics do not include doubled-up housing or homeless in Green County that choose not to come to our agency," Blumer said.
Examples of near-homelessness would be a formal eviction process that has started; health condition that would make a household unable to pay for housing which could cause an eviction; income reduction in the family that could cause homelessness; or facing foreclosure on a residence.
"Most of the homeless were homeless from one to six weeks, so when I talk about how many homeless there are, please keep this in mind. Also some of the near-homeless were served over multiple weeks due to their household circumstances," Blumer said.
The homelessness situation is a chain reaction, said Bridget Mouchon, co-chair of the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County.
"Support that people fall back on isn't there anymore. Friends and family are also in the same situation," she said.
Mouchon said homelessness isn't directly related to losing a job, but starts when people fall behind in their rent or mortgage payments and the houses go into foreclosure.
"We are seeing indications that the major recession we are in has had serious family economic consequences," Mouchon said. "Everyone is affected by the issues (in the economy). So the chain of support won't be able to support you."
The recently created Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County, which is pulling together public agencies, community organizations, churches and volunteers to provide temporary emergency housing, has just formed its committees.
The group filed for non-profit status under the umbrella of Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program. They also have passed a motion to have SWCAP proceed with writing a grant requesting on their behalf about $600 per month for the establishment of a homeless facility in Green County, with SWCAP providing case management.
"The coalition is now trying to think of locations, one or two apartments, we can use for short-term placement," Mouchon said.
She said St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army have seen similar elevated need for resources and help over the last six months.
About $200,000 was spent in the first 11 months of 2009, for emergency housing in Green County. Included in that amount is $75,000 from the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program funded through the federal stimulus package, along with funds from Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and Green County Human Services.
Green County spent $67,000 in that same period for emergency shelter, but decreased the budget item to $60,000 for 2010.
While in the past some people looking for a place to stay were from outside the county, the vast majority of homeless now seeking help from county-based resources are Green County residents, according to a press released from the coalition.
Other statistics about family economic situations could help explain the dramatic rise in the numbers of homeless in the county.
The county's unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent to 7.8 percent over the past year, according to Mouchon in the press release.
While some people are still technically employed, their hours and income have dropped, causing family economic stress and hardship.
Another sign of family economic distress is food stamp enrollment.
From January 2007 to December 2009, the rate of food stamp enrollment more than doubled, from 1584 to 3291, and now equals about 10 percent of the county's population, the release stated.
In addition, the number of foreclosure court cases in Green County have been steadily increasing over the past four years. In 2006, there were 102 foreclosures, 129 in 2007; 150 in 2008; and 174 in 2009, according to the press release.
The coalition is working on multiple issues and meets at 1:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Pleasant View Complex, Monroe.
To find out more, call co-chairs Bridget Mouchon at 328-9440 or Kris Wisnefske at 324-1185.
Jeannie Blumer, supervisor at the Green County Human Services Economic Support Department, said her department sees an average of one to three homeless families with children each week, and between one and five homeless individuals each week.
In a newly completed report by Green County Human Services, a total of 112 unduplicated households were homeless or near homeless in Green County.
Of the 55 homeless households, 65 were adults and 63 were children.
There were 57 near-homeless unduplicated households, with 76 adults and 83 children.
"It is important to note that these statistics do not include doubled-up housing or homeless in Green County that choose not to come to our agency," Blumer said.
Examples of near-homelessness would be a formal eviction process that has started; health condition that would make a household unable to pay for housing which could cause an eviction; income reduction in the family that could cause homelessness; or facing foreclosure on a residence.
"Most of the homeless were homeless from one to six weeks, so when I talk about how many homeless there are, please keep this in mind. Also some of the near-homeless were served over multiple weeks due to their household circumstances," Blumer said.
The homelessness situation is a chain reaction, said Bridget Mouchon, co-chair of the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County.
"Support that people fall back on isn't there anymore. Friends and family are also in the same situation," she said.
Mouchon said homelessness isn't directly related to losing a job, but starts when people fall behind in their rent or mortgage payments and the houses go into foreclosure.
"We are seeing indications that the major recession we are in has had serious family economic consequences," Mouchon said. "Everyone is affected by the issues (in the economy). So the chain of support won't be able to support you."
The recently created Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County, which is pulling together public agencies, community organizations, churches and volunteers to provide temporary emergency housing, has just formed its committees.
The group filed for non-profit status under the umbrella of Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program. They also have passed a motion to have SWCAP proceed with writing a grant requesting on their behalf about $600 per month for the establishment of a homeless facility in Green County, with SWCAP providing case management.
"The coalition is now trying to think of locations, one or two apartments, we can use for short-term placement," Mouchon said.
She said St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army have seen similar elevated need for resources and help over the last six months.
About $200,000 was spent in the first 11 months of 2009, for emergency housing in Green County. Included in that amount is $75,000 from the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program funded through the federal stimulus package, along with funds from Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and Green County Human Services.
Green County spent $67,000 in that same period for emergency shelter, but decreased the budget item to $60,000 for 2010.
While in the past some people looking for a place to stay were from outside the county, the vast majority of homeless now seeking help from county-based resources are Green County residents, according to a press released from the coalition.
Other statistics about family economic situations could help explain the dramatic rise in the numbers of homeless in the county.
The county's unemployment rate rose from 5.5 percent to 7.8 percent over the past year, according to Mouchon in the press release.
While some people are still technically employed, their hours and income have dropped, causing family economic stress and hardship.
Another sign of family economic distress is food stamp enrollment.
From January 2007 to December 2009, the rate of food stamp enrollment more than doubled, from 1584 to 3291, and now equals about 10 percent of the county's population, the release stated.
In addition, the number of foreclosure court cases in Green County have been steadily increasing over the past four years. In 2006, there were 102 foreclosures, 129 in 2007; 150 in 2008; and 174 in 2009, according to the press release.
The coalition is working on multiple issues and meets at 1:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Pleasant View Complex, Monroe.
To find out more, call co-chairs Bridget Mouchon at 328-9440 or Kris Wisnefske at 324-1185.