Joint Wausau–Marathon County task force urges coordinated regional plan, backs interim shelter

A joint task force of the City of Wausau and Marathon County presented a report on May 19 recommending a coordinated, regional approach to homelessness, short-term funding to preserve year-round shelter capacity and further analysis of gaps in behavioral health and housing services.

The task force said homelessness in Marathon County is complex and multifaceted and urged city and county staff to develop a coordinated, actionable plan by the end of first quarter 2026. Ron Covelli, who presented the report, said, "Homelessness is a very complex issue with many layers." The presentation ran through the local history of service responses, current provider capacity and a list of recommended next steps.

Why it matters: the report frames homelessness as a countywide issue that the task force says requires both short-term stabilization of shelter services and longer-term investments in behavioral health, transitional housing, landlord engagement and transportation. The task force recommended that the county administrator and city staff work with surrounding municipalities on resource-sharing and that the governing bodies pursue a measurable goal of "functional zero" homelessness (a stated, measurable goal to reduce repeated episodes of homelessness).

Most important facts

- Interim shelter: The Wausau Marathon County (WMC) gap shelter opened May 1 in the basement of First United Methodist Church, 903 Third Ave., and was described as a…