County looks to continue its homelessness support

Members of Marathon County’s Health and Human Service Committee hope to continue the county’s support for addressing homelessness in Wausau next year by approving a new coordinator in the Health Department and contributing $175,000 toward a contract with Bridge Street Mission for emergency shelter services.

During a discussion of the 2026 budget last week Wednesday, the committee unanimously approved a pair of motions recommending that the board include the new homeless coordinator in the budget, along with half the money for a $350,000 contract between the county, the city of Wausau and Bridge Street Mission.

Earlier this year, at the recommendation of a city-county task force, the board voted to allocate $200,000 out of the county’s contingency fund to help pay for a 24/7 emergency shelter in Wausau after Catholic Charities announced it was ceasing year-round operations at its Good Shepherd shelter in April. County administrator Lance Leonhard said the county has not spent all of that $200,000, so whatever is left can be rolled over into the Bridge Street contract.

Gary Veltus, regional director of Catholic Charities, told supervisors in February that the organization had been paying 100 percent of the cost of running the day shelter. Veltus said homelessness continues to be a pressing issue, with Good Shepherd providing temporary shelter for 316 individuals last year, with a total of 10,600 overnight stays, warm meals, and other services, Veltus said.

“With over 10,500 night stays in 2024, it is my hope that the county as well as the city team up with shelter services to help those unhoused individuals,” he said. “This is a growing problem that we need to address together as a group in a civilized manner.”

At last week’s meeting, Leonhard said he’s proposing that the county board defund a nurse manager position within the Health Department and use that money to pay for someone to coordinate county services for homeless individuals. He said Catholic Charities will continue to offer shelter services during the cold months, starting Nov. 1, but the city of Wausau has signed a contract with Bridge Street for year-round services, with the hope that the county will continue to offer financial support.

Supervisor Ron Covelli, a member of the homelessness task force, said he has no qualms with continuing to partner with the city on shelter services. Supervisor Ann Lemmer, however, wondered if the county shouldn’t focus its funding on enhancing “wraparound services” for homeless people, such as substance abuse treatment and longterm housing support.

Lemmer said other municipalities besides Wausau should be asked to contribute money toward a shelter, since many of their residents end up in Wausau for social services.

Supervisor Matt Bootz said he doubts whether other municipalities would agree to provide funding.

“You can ask all you want,” he said. “Nobody wants to spend the money.”

Lemmer said Bridge Street has been “an amazing partner” in addressing the homelessness problem, but she worries that its religious mission could result in discrimination against those who don’t agree with the volunteers who provide guidance.

Supervisor Jennifer Aarrestad said the contract with Bridge Street ensures that services will be provided regardless of “faith, gender or lifestyle,” and “no beneficiary of services under this contract shall be required to participate in any religious activities.”

“I feel the contract is a good umbrella. It’s a good start,” she said. “I agree with Ron Covelli that we should probably start moving forward.”