Joint City Council and County Board Planning Meeting – Pathways Home Update – September 9, 2026

Note: The agenda and minutes list the meeting date as September 8, 2026, but the user-provided timestamp is September 9, 2026. This summary uses the user-provided date.

The La Crosse City Council and County Board of Supervisors held a joint planning meeting to receive an update on the Pathways Home five-year plan to end homelessness. Homeless Services Coordinator Brian Sampson and Homelessness Response System Project Manager Jim Drees presented data on unsheltered homelessness in downtown La Crosse, a coordinated outreach campaign, progress on housing and supportive services, and persistent gaps for individuals with intensive needs. No formal votes or decisions were taken; the session was informational and included questions from council and board members.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Community member asked about the use of donations for the Pathways Held Lease program, specifically how much goes to administrative costs versus direct housing support, and whether tenants receive ongoing guidance. Brian Sampson responded that no city or county funds are taken for administration; the money covers rent, utilities, security deposits, and renter's insurance, with a small fee for a tenant manager. Tenants must work with a service provider throughout the lease term, which starts month-to-month and may extend.

Discussion Items

• Pathways Home Overview: Sampson and Drees reviewed the plan launched in January 2024, now at its midpoint. The city focuses on adding housing stock at all income levels; the county emphasizes supportive services (mental health, addiction, job training). The goal is functional zero – homelessness that is rare, brief, and non-reoccurring.
• Unsheltered Homelessness in Downtown: The presenters distinguished between the overall homeless population and the unsheltered subset concentrated downtown. 55% of downtown unsheltered individuals have intensive needs (serious mental illness, substance use disorders), compared to only 15–20% of the remaining homeless population. These individuals have longer histories of homelessness and higher interactions with emergency rooms and the justice system.
• Coordinated Campaign (Targeted Outreach): After a temporary surge shelter proved infeasible (zoning, fire code, funding), the team pivoted to a targeted outreach campaign. Police and parks identified 80 individuals causing significant concern. Of those: 40+ received shelter bed offers (6 accepted and stayed, 12 accepted then left, 20 declined, 10 banned); 20 received treatment-to-housing package offers (4 accepted, 20% started then left, 60% declined). Nine of the 80 have been housed. Outreach occurs daily, and offers are repeated to build trust.
• Service Needs Assessment: Using a Pathways Adult Need and Strength Analysis, 1% of the homeless population requires 24/7 care; 30% have intensive needs (daily support); 33% moderate (weekly); 35% light (monthly); 1% none. Only 10% of housing placements have gone to intensive-need individuals, leaving a significant gap. 60 intensive housing units are still needed. Moderate need is 70 units short; light need is down from 103 to 80 units, with many market-rate units coming online.
• Housing and Funding Initiatives:
  • The Collective on Fourth: 12 set-aside units for lighter-need individuals; 11 of 12 leases renewed after one year.
  • Parkland Studios (Hillview campus): 10 units for moderate-need individuals, with on-site peer and social worker support; early data show housing stability increases income.
  • Pathways Held Leases: funded by Mayo, the city signs five leases with private landlords and subleases to individuals with lighter needs. Two move-ins occurred in the prior two weeks; the third was scheduled for the next day; all five units expected to be occupied within a week. Tenants pay 30% of income; the city covers the rest. Goal is to build positive rental history.
  • Homes for 100 Fund: a community-driven rent support fund launched with the La Crosse Area Community Foundation to expand the held lease model.
  • Grants: $350,000 Wisconsin DOJ deflection grant to divert individuals from jail to housing and treatment; City HOME-ARP funds for a dedicated social worker for five high-need individuals; RISE opioid response funding for a jail re-entry coordinator and jail therapist.
• Data on Homelessness Trends: Overall homelessness count dropped from a peak of 295 to about 200. The community is housing more people than becoming homeless (net negative inflow of ~5 per month, slightly below the target of 6). Macro factors (rising evictions, housing affordability) create headwinds. 83% of homeless individuals last had housing in La Crosse, according to system data; balance-of-state data shows more people move out of the La Crosse coalition area than into it.
• Q&A Highlights:
  • Councilmember Lisa Weston asked about non-local individuals transported to La Crosse. Sampson reported 83% last had housing locally; the balance-of-state data shows net out-migration. No pattern of systematic transportation was identified.
  • County Supervisor David Pierce asked about overlap between jail re-entry and intensive needs. Drees said the team will track intensive individuals broken down by substance use, mental health, co-occurring, and monitor progress through treatment packages and placements.
  • County Supervisor Peg Aisola asked why the temporary surge shelter was not pursued. Drees cited site, zoning, agency support, and funding roadblocks; adding shelter beds remains a need.
  • Councilmember Aron Newberry asked about state-level advocacy. Sampson and Drees recommended advocating for increased funding for homelessness prevention, flexible rent support, public housing expansion, and Section 8 vouchers. Prevention is more cost-effective than response.
  • County Supervisor Beth Pigash asked who is missing from the table. Sampson said private investors and businesses; Drees mentioned better coordination for moving individuals between levels of care and continued learning from other counties.
  • County Supervisor Randy Erickson asked about boarding houses. Sampson noted shared living models are being explored, but could not speak to boarding houses specifically.
  • Councilmember Chris Kahlow asked about engaging faith communities. Drees reported a monthly meeting with faith leaders, a “Baskets of Belonging” program for move-in supplies, and discussions with churches about becoming supportive landlords. He requested more information about a faith-based success story.
  • Councilmember Crystal Bedford raised concerns about faith-based requirements (e.g., church attendance) creating barriers. Sampson affirmed that services are voluntary and the goal is a menu of options.
  • Councilmember Lisa Weston asked about a geographic heat map of unsheltered locations. Sampson said locations change frequently; outreach teams adapt daily.
  • A question about shower services: Sampson noted Catholic Charities offers shower and laundry services a few times per week.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or motions were made. The meeting was informational.
• Presenters and council members acknowledged the persistent challenge of housing individuals with intensive needs; the team will continue targeted outreach, treatment packages, and pilot projects (e.g., scattered-site daily support units).
• Council President Tamra Dickinson encouraged attendees to consider contributing to the Homes for 100 fund.
• The next joint meeting is expected to be hosted at the county facility, date to be determined.