Pathways-held leases start move‑ins as Homes for 100 fundraising begins

Brian Sampson said the City received Mayo Clinic funding to underwrite five leases that the city signs with private landlords and subleases to people experiencing homelessness. "With the Mayo funding, we are able to pay for 1 year leases where the city upfront we will pay for security deposit, utilities, monthly rent," Sampson said, adding tenants then pay 30% of income when they can.

Sampson said the program is not intended to be permanent subsidy; rather, the goal is to build rental history and landlord references so tenants can move into independent leases. He said the first two move-ins occurred within the prior two weeks, a third was scheduled the next day, and the program expects all five units to be occupied within a week.

Sampson also described a fundraising effort administered with the La Crosse Area Community Foundation—Homes for 100—to expand rent-support and lease funding through private donations. He said the City and County do not take administrative fees from the donated funds and that tenant managers and partner service providers will support referrals and case management.