La Crosse pilots treatment-to-housing, enrolls in Medicaid supportive‑housing and wins DOJ deflection grant

County staff described a set of program tools intended to reach people who decline congregate shelter: bundled treatment-to-housing packages that move people from outreach to detox or residential treatment, transitional housing and then longer-term housing with supports. Drees said these packages are voluntary and require time to build trust; of 20 people offered a treatment-to-housing package, four accepted and remain in process.

Jim Drees noted the county is among the first in Wisconsin to be approved for a Medicaid supportive-housing program, which provides housing consultation, person-centered planning and transitional supports; the county reported more than 100 people enrolled in that program. He explained that the program can offer relocation support of up to $2,000 for people coming from shelters but does not pay ongoing rent.

Sampson and Drees also described a $350,000 Wisconsin Department of Justice deflection grant to pair police with social workers for alternatives to arrest; roughly $100,000 of that award is earmarked for housing supports, and the county said the grant could be extended to increase the total to about $500,000.