Contact: Rep. Jessie Rodriguez
(608) 266-0610
MADISON – State Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) joined two of her Assembly GOP colleagues to testify on legislation that aims to curb homelessness in Wisconsin on Tuesday. The legislation, Assembly Bill 122, is part of a broader package of bills unveiled by Assembly Republicans in February that will infuse $3.75 million for homeless response resources.
“Last session, my colleagues and I came forward to take the first steps to addressing homelessness in a meaningful way in Wisconsin, an issue that had not been looked at in more than a decade,” said Rodriguez. “Today, we are continuing that conversation with legislation that addresses employment, skills enhancement and family and mental health needs for the homeless population.”
In 2014, federal law gave funding to states and local workforce development boards to create plans that provide employment and training activities to job seekers. Rodriguez’s proposal requires the state and local workforce boards to work with homeless response systems in designing their strategic workforce development plans.
“Through our work on homelessness last session, we learned that finding meaningful employment is one of the most crucial steps to ending homelessness. It’s important for the homeless population to have someone at the table when workforce plans are developed to help them find employment and meet our end goal.”
The proposal comes directly from the Interagency Council on Homelessness. The council was created last session and charged with developing recommendations for policy that works toward ending homelessness in Wisconsin.
Gov. Evers appointed himself chair of the committee in February to replace former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. The committee has not met under the new administration and has yet to appoint a new director to lead the council.
“We know we have a long road ahead as we continue to try and end homelessness in Wisconsin but I’m proud of what we have accomplished so far and I’m looking forward to continuing this work with my colleagues moving forward,” said Rodriguez.
