Marathon County pledges up to $200,000; Wausau and county issue RFP for night shelter

Marathon County supervisors authorized partnering with the City of Wausau on night-shelter services and to provide up to $200,000 in 2025, the Wausau Police chief told the Public Health and Safety Committee on March 17. The county indicated it would revisit funding through its regular budget process in 2026.

Police Chief Barnes, who represents the city on the joint city–county task force, said he has met with the county administrator to align county priorities with the city’s needs for a request for proposals that was published with a March 28 submission deadline and an opening scheduled at the Board of Public Works on April 2. Barnes described meetings with people who have experienced homelessness to learn what they view as successful shelter features and said those conversations shaped the RFP.

Barnes said the task force and the RFP are designed to allow for one or more proposals to be funded, including proposals that would provide niche services such as women-only shelters or shelters for people who are impaired. “I think we're in the best position we've been in to provide those services in a long time with County Partnership,” Barnes said.

Alder McElhinney, co-chair of the task force, said the county board needed an informational briefing about the timeline and context; after presentations the county moved to fund the partnership and the vote showed strong board support. Committee members discussed using the joint task force, city committees and staff to evaluate proposals and noted that the county administrator and the city's evaluation team have decision authority under the county and city resolutions and rules referenced in the task force discussions.

Tracy (last name not specified), who directs community outreach, told the committee that outreach efforts during February included 11 activations of off-site sheltering; staff placed 148 people in off-site shelters in that period and continue to collaborate with partner agencies. Tracy said the department is working with NCAP, Salvation Army and other agencies and reported several housing placements in early March, including expedited housing for a person with terminal cancer.

Chief Barnes announced a community screening of the documentary Americans with No Address on March 25 at the Grama Theatre; the event is cosponsored by CPC, Bridge Street Mission and the Wausau Police Department and is intended to inform policy makers and the public about approaches to homelessness.

The RFP process and task force work are ongoing. Committee members asked staff to use the task force and other committees as appropriate to evaluate proposals and to consider timing because shelter operations could change the landscape by May 1.