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Shalom Center requests $35,000 to staff diversion program that reported 307 households diverted from shelter
Summary
The Shalom Center asked for funding to staff a homelessness diversion program that reported 441 calls and 307 households diverted over an eight‑month period; the committee requested recidivism/re‑entry data and staffing cost details.
Armand Harris of the Shalom Center presented a request for $35,000 to support the Center’s diversion program, a first‑contact service that helps people avoid entering emergency shelter through mediation, short‑term aid, family reunification and referrals.
Harris said diversion is the first point of contact in Kenosha County’s homelessness response and reported that between November and June the program received 441 unique calls, diverted 307 individuals or households from shelter, sheltered 134 after assessment and referred 34 domestic‑violence cases to the Women and Children’s Rights Center. The program operates a Hope Hub where a diversion specialist is available for walk‑ins and calls five days a week and offers wraparound supports including showers, food and essentials.
The presentation framed diversion as cost‑effective — Shalom referenced a rule‑of‑thumb savings of up to $4 for every $1 invested by reducing emergency and shelter costs — and emphasized partnerships with local Continuum of Care agencies and Housing First philosophy.
Committee questions focused on re‑entry/recidivism rates for diverted households, whether the requested funds would cover an existing position or create a new one, and how the program coordinates with domestic‑violence shelter capacity; Harris said re‑entry data would be provided to staff, that funds would contribute to staffing costs and that safety protocols are used when referring domestic‑violence survivors to partner shelters.
