“It’s my home”: Dairy Drive encampment will close September 30

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – The encampment at Dairy Drive will close. 

The resource first opened in 2021 using money from pandemic-era federal grants. The nonprofit Madison Street Medicine operates and manages the encampment, which contains 29 tiny home shelters. 

It gave people experiencing homelessness a stable place to stay, and privacy. It was supposed to be temporary, but the city has extended its contract with Madison Street Medicine twice since Dairy Drive first opened. 

Now that federal grant money has run out. The contract would only last until the end of September. 

There was a last-ditch effort to keep it open until the spring. That measure was considered at Tuesday’s common council meeting. 

More than 70 people registered to speak at that meeting in support of the extension. That includes some residents of Dairy Drive. 

“Dairy Drive has provided me with a stable place to live. Even though it’s not a three-bedroom house, it’s my home, and it works for me,” said Stacey, a resident who did not give her last name. 

She quickly got emotional about what Dairy Drive has meant to her. 

“I am able to have visitation with my son, where I can make him food, play basketball, and take him to the park” she said as she choked up and paused. “This place has shown my kid how to care for each other.” 

It was a long night. Alders didn’t vote until after 1 a.m. Wednesday. Ultimately, the measure failed by just one vote. 

Madison Street Medicine executive director Brenda Konkel told the common council that some folks have already moved out, expecting the encampment to close. There are at least 22 people trying to figure out where to go now.

Dairy Drive’s last day open is Sept. 30.