WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A resolution declaring city support for a package of bills currently in the state senate is on it’s way to the common council.
On Monday night Wausau’s Public Health and Safety Committee unanimously approved a resolution to support a package of bills currently stuck in the State Senate. The bills in the package all deal with homelessness issues.
After concerns from the community regarding the homelessness issues in Wausau over the past couple weeks, members of the committee found it important to show their support for the bills. Including District 1 Alder Pat Peckham who brought the idea of creating a resolution to committee chair Lisa Rasmussen.
Speaking with WSAU News after the meeting, Peckham says the resolution is one-way city leaders can show their support in helping to solve homelessness issues at all government levels. “We would like to show our community support for State Senate consideration of these bills. We hope they pass them.”
The eight bills included in the package cover a wide range of issues. Some of the bills increase funding for grants to homeless shelters. While others focus on creating new positions like housing navigators. Which Peckham describes as people who help those looking for housing that can’t find any options.
Another hope with creating the resolution to support the bills is to get other communities to endorse the resolution. If more communities sign the resolution then it shows the State Senate that those bills are something their constituents want to be passed.
Homelessness issues have been a major topic of discussion at Wausau city meetings for the past few weeks. With the introduction and passing of a parking ramp loitering ordinance, many community members have expressed their concerns about how homelessness is being treated in Wausau.
Peckham feels that the resolution passed at Public Health and Safety is one way the council can try and address those concerns. “The community has told the council that they want more done to resolve homelessness issues.
“And one of the ways that we can do that is to pass this resolution and get this stuff to the State Senate. So more assistance for shelters, the housing navigators and the other steps.”
The resolution now moves on to the full city council after passing Public Health and Safety. The council will vote on the resolution at their next meeting on November 26th. You can read a full description of the bills in the agenda packet from Monday’s meeting here.
