A community summit to build the housing justice movement in Dane County.
APRIL 27, 2013 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH MADISON, WI
SPONSORS: Dane County Homeless Issues Committee* Affordable Housing Action Alliance * Progressive Dane * National Lawyers Guild * Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin * Madison-area Urban Ministry * First Unitarian Society * United Legal Workers* Freedom, Inc. *Operation Welcome Home * Take Back the Land-Madison
Both the City of Madison and Dane County recently passed resolutions recognizing housing as a human right, but the challenges to realizing that right for Dane County residents are significant. There are about 36,000 Dane County residents renting units they cannot afford, over 1000 homeless kids in Madison schools, and hundreds of homeless living unsheltered on the streets. Policy makers are concerned with the situation, but are intimidated by the magnitude of the problem and the challenges of austere state and federal budgets and Act 10 revenue limits. They need assistance, pressure, and support to effectively implement housing solutions.
These local resolutions, combined with dedicated grass roots organizing, civil disobedience by housing activists, and the creation of a new City-County Homeless Issues Committee and a temporary homeless day shelter, have drawn media attention to the serious housing crisis in our midst and engaged the conscience of our community. Without housing, it is nearly impossible to keep your family together, maintain physical or mental well-being, achieve in school, obtain or retain employment, and fully realize your potential in your community. Homeless and near homeless persons, policy-makers, providers, funders, activists, and community members must prioritize the right to housing and creatively collaborate to implement the right to housing for Dane County residents. We invite you to this summit to join in that effort. Registration is free and open to the public.
Opening Plenary – Welcome to the Right to Housing Movement (9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI
-Introduction to Local Resolutions Recognizing Housing as a Human Right
– Heidi M. Wegleitner, Dane County Supervisor, Vice-Chair City-County Homeless Issues Committee, and housing law attorney
-Vignettes by Local Housing and Homeless Activists
-Background on the Affordable Housing and Homelessness Crisis in Dane County
– Brenda Konkel, Executive Director, Tenant Resource Center and former City of Madison Alder
Shortcomings of Streets and Shelter – Unhoused Living (10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)
First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI 53703
Panel discussion on the gaps in the emergency shelter system, the challenges of both staying in and operating an emergency shelter with significant funding and space limitations, and trying to meet the needs of the sheltered and unsheltered. Panelists include Leigha Weber- The Salvation Army, Robin Lickel- expert on trauma-informed care, Tyler Schueffner- Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin, shelter guests, and unsheltered persons. Moderated by Jack Longert, attorney and former homeless services manager. (10:45 – 11:40)
Break-out Discussions (11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)
– Unaccompanied Homeless Youth –Make Room for Youth; Medical Shelter – Linda Ketcham, Madison-Area Urban Ministry; Trauma-Informed Care; Stone Soup and Emergency Shelter Efforts – Carrie Riddle, Autonomous Solidarity Organization; Effects of Shelter on Pregnant Women and Young Children – Jeanne Erickson, Project Babies; Feeding the State Street Family*; Needs of LGBTQ Homeless Populations*; Homeless Bill of Rights*
LUNCH by STONE SOUP 12:15 p.m.- 1 p.m. – FUMC, 203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI
Affordable Housing – The Permanent Solutions (1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.)
Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI
Panel discussion of the different types of affordable housing and the various considerations and challenges in planning for affordable housing, funding it, siting it, operating it, and (from an applicant/tenant/advocate standpoint) getting approved for affordable housing and maintaining it. Panelists include Rob Dicke- Dane County Housing Authority, Dana Pellebon- Porchlight, Inc., Gayle Ihlenfeld- YWCA, Michael Carlson- Madison Community Cooperative, and Chris Laurent- affordable housing development expert. Moderated by Brenda Konkel.
(1 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.)
Break-out Discussions (1:55 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.)
– Housing First Model*, Permanent Supportive Housing*, SROs*, Cooperative Housing*, Challenging Subsidized Housing Denials and Terminations
Closing Plenary – Connecting the Housing Struggle to the Broader Movement for Economic Justice, Restoring our Democracy, and Building a Sustainable Future (2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.)
Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI
Panel discussion on breaking down barriers, building coalitions, and strengthening the housing justice movement by connecting with other community struggles. Panelists include those working on community organizing, labor struggles, public health, public education, anti-violence, racial justice, and protest art. Moderated by Anthony Prince, National Lawyers Guild and Labor Attorney.
*Pending Confirmation
