This year’s Wisconsin state budget included a rather unfortunate cut: The Republican-controlled budget committee eliminated funding for the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program that would have kept two facilities, in Green Bay and in Chippewa Falls, open and operational. 

This state program aims to provide temporary housing, training, and supportive services to military veterans who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless in order to help them obtain permanent housing. 

In response to these looming closures, Democrats representing parts of Green Bay and Chippewa Falls introduced legislation in August to keep these facilities open. But Republican legislative leadership has not even allowed a public hearing on the bill. And the clock is ticking. Without these funds, these facilities are set to close by September 30 of this year. 

Republicans need to come to the table and step up to support our veterans now, before it’s too late. 

It’s a noble goal, and an important one, and the estimated cost of keeping these two facilities open is less than $2 million – not exactly an astronomical number in a $111 billion state budget. 

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