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Flood disasters hold lesson about homelessness, say advocates

Pat Schneider  —  6/20/2008 9:30 pm

The recent flooding in Wisconsin is a teachable moment on how a change in circumstances can make people homeless, says Greta Hanson, executive director of the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin.

"So much angst and empathy is flowing to people who have lost everything," Hanson said. "We work with people who have lost everything every day. What's the difference?"

CAC is a member of the Dane County Coalition to Fight Homelessness and End Poverty, a group formed in May to educate the community on homelessness and work towards ending poverty in the wake of a recent backlash in Madison against homeless people. Members met Thursday to strategize on how to influence the budgeting process for local governments and raise the profile of poverty issues, possibly at a public event later this summer. A June 5 forum on homelessness drew about 125 participants, coalition members said.

The American Red Cross have raised $595,000 of a $2.7 million goal for Wisconsin flood victims, an agency spokesperson said Friday.

"When there's a tragedy, people have a tendency to help," Linda Ketcham, executive director of Madison-area Urban Ministry, noted Thursday. People who end up homeless outside of large-scale emergencies more often are blamed for not avoiding the predicament, she said.

"No matter how they got them and whether it's temporary or long-term, homeless people are dealing with the same things and experiencing the same frustrations with the system," said Lisa Subeck, a program coordinator at YWCA.

Most coalition members represent agencies who provide services to homeless people, but Sara Richards said she became involved because of volunteer work at St. Vincent De Paul.

"It was a very educational experience," she said. "I met some nice people who were living in their cars. There's a great need for more community awareness."

Pat Schneider  —  6/20/2008 9:30 pm