La Crosse council hears ARPA housing updates from CouleeCap and Karuna Housing

Hetty Brown, director of CouleeCap, told the La Crosse City Council that CouleeCap is using its ARPA award to expand the Pathways Home program and acquire housing close to services. "We purchased a property at 320 Main Street" in February that provides four one-bedroom residential units above commercial space, Brown said, adding the commercial units will help generate income to support the program beyond ARPA.

Ashley Lesinski, a CouleeCap project lead, described a city housing-choice voucher effort intended to give people exiting shelter choices in existing rental units and said the organization aimed to serve 16 people; so far the voucher component has issued 11 vouchers and five individuals have moved into permanent housing. Becky Koski, who presented on the voucher design, said the agency partnered with the Salvation Army for case management and that several participants who engaged with the program found stable housing and work.

Julie McDermott, executive director of Karuna Housing, described Karuna’s model for intensive supportive housing for people who meet HUD’s chronic homelessness criteria. Karuna was awarded $300,000 in ARPA funds; McDermott said the original plan split $200,000 for acquisition/renovation and $100,000 for operations, but the council approved an amendment moving $75,000 from acquisitions to operating costs. She reported Karuna has spent roughly $175,000 in operating costs and $123,000 of acquisition funds to date, closed on a first owned building in November, and will move some pilot residents into the new property this month.

McDermott emphasized sustainability steps the organization is pursuing: rent contributions from residents, pursuing project-based housing choice vouchers through the local housing authority, Medicaid provider enrollment to capture supportive-service reimbursements, and targeted fundraising. "Being approved as a Medicaid provider should allow us to be reimbursed for support services we provide on-site," she said.

Council members asked for operational details and unit sizing; CouleeCap said it is seeking studio and one-bedroom units and occasionally small multi-unit properties that can cash-flow under the program’s budget caps. Council member Mandel noted firsthand experience with the agency’s services and thanked staff for the work. No vote was required or taken; presenters said they would share slides and a short video with council members after the meeting.