Shelter served 128 unduplicated in June; staff pursue mental-health clinic partnership with Medical College of Wisconsin

Tracy Durante gave the Public Health and Safety Committee an outreach update on July 21, reporting shelter use, recent housing outcomes and a potential partnership for on-site mental-health services.

Durante said 128 unduplicated individuals used the shelter in June; 46 of those were new to the shelter setting though not new to homelessness. "46 of those, we will say, were new to the shelter, not new to homelessness, but new to the shelter settings," she said. Durante said housing outcomes in June included four guests who moved into housing: one female relocated to Antigo where she had supports, and three males were successfully housed. She also said two individuals who arrived from Shawano County in late May or early June were relocated back to Shawano County by the end of June.

Durante said she met with a psychiatrist from the Medical College of Wisconsin and that the shelter is exploring a partnership to host a mental-health clinic one or two times per month; she will conduct a shelter survey to gauge guest interest and determine next steps. She also said the shelter has open positions for a shelter lead and a shelter advocate and that new staff hires are expected in the coming weeks.

Committee members described a recent volunteer night at the shelter, which about six or seven council members and the mayor attended, as a positive experience that helped committee members better understand shelter operations. The committee placed the outreach report on file.