Bills to Fight Homeless Heard in Housing Committee
As many of you know, I am chair of the Housing and Real Estate Committee. In 2017 it was reported that more than 21,000 people experienced homelessness in Wisconsin. Republican legislators have introduced eight bills to combat homelessness in our state. This week the committee on Housing and Real Estate heard testimony on three bills designed to help Wisconsin’s homeless population.
The first, AB 121, creates an annual appropriation of $300,000 to be used by DOA to provide grants to Continuum of Care organizations to hire housing navigators. Housing navigators act as mediators in landlord-tenant issues, recruit landlords and identify affordable housing for program participants.
The second, AB 123, provides $900,000 each year for the next two years to provide grants for housing and support services for homeless individuals and families.
The third, AB 125, allows DOA to award loans to owners of rental housing units for satisfying certain housing quality standards. Loan recipients who rent housing units to persons/families with low or moderate income may have the loan forgiven if certain requirements are met.
Budget Listening Sessions
This morning I held my first listening session in the town of Lowell. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to come by and share their thoughts with me. My previous E-update had the incorrect address for the Lebanon town hall, it has been corrected in the list of remaining listening sessions. I hope to see you there!
Listening Sessions with Representative John Jagler:
Friday May 3rd at 11:00 A.M.- noon
Windsor Municipal Building
4084 Muller Rd,
DeForest, WI 53532
Friday May 3rd 1:30 P.M.- 2:30 P.M.
Watertown Municipal Building- Council Chambers
106 Jones St,
Watertown, WI 53094
Friday May 10, 11:00 A.M.- noon
Waterloo Municipal Building– Council Room
136 North Monroe Street
Waterloo, WI 53594
Friday May 10, 1:30 P.M.- 2:30 P.M.
Lebanon Town Hall
N1738 County Road R
Lebanon, WI 53047
If you are unable to attend my listening session the Joint Committee on Finance is holding their own listening sessions throughout the state and written testimony can be emailed to: budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov