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Wausau outreach coordinator reports shelter serving 110 unduplicated guests in first month; Bridge Street Mission proposal under review
Summary
Tracy Durante told the committee the city's new shelter served 110 unduplicated guests in its first month, with 25% women and 16% of guests employed; staff reported housing placements and described coordination work with partners and a Bridge Street Mission proposal to build an 8,200-square-foot long-term shelter using ARPA funding.
Tracy Durante, the city’s outreach coordinator, told the Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee on June 16 that the new shelter logged 110 unduplicated guests in its first month of operation, with about 25% of guests identifying as women and roughly 16% actively employed.
Durante said two individuals were housed in May, one female guest was reunited with family in Wisconsin Dells, and staff housed another individual in June. Daily census at the shelter ranged from a low of 30 to a high of 58 during May. Volunteers provided 1,030 hours of service in the month and local establishments donated meals, Durante said.
Durante said the shelter has implemented signed releases of information (ROIs) so staff can discuss individual cases in multiagency meetings. She said that of the roughly 110 guests, the shelter has ROIs on file, which allows her to convene coordinated care-team discussions that include community partners such as North Central Health Care and others who participate in the Continuum of Care/HMIS system.
Committee members and staff discussed systems and data-sharing. Durante said access to the HMIS database is limited to Continuum of Care members, but that the city’s approach to collecting ROIs and convening care teams allows staff to coordinate services without the city itself necessarily having full database access.
On long-term shelter options, staff summarized a Bridge Street Mission proposal to build out approximately 8,200 square feet of unfinished space and to privately fundraise for interior build-out to create men’s and women’s shelter facilities. Staff said Bridge Street Mission’s proposal was responsive to the city’s request and that the mayor, city staff and county representatives have met with the organization and evaluated the submission. The city described next steps as negotiating contract terms; staff said their hope was to complete a contract decision and allow Bridge Street Mission to proceed with construction planning as soon as possible. The mayor and staff said they would aim to have material to the council within roughly a month and that a special meeting or placement on a council agenda might be needed for a timely decision.
Committee members invited to volunteer at the shelter will provide meals and on-site help; staff asked volunteers to arrive between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. for a tour and training. The committee placed the outreach report on file.
