Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness

In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.

2 minute read

February 3, 2023, 6:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

Sean Pavone / Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“In 2022, Milwaukee County had the lowest per-capita count of unsheltered homeless people in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.” But the county has seen an increase in unhoused residents, putting that record in jeopardy, writes Evan Casey in Urban Milwaukee.

Eric Collins-Dyke, the assistant administrator of supportive housing and homeless services for Milwaukee County, says he has seen a growth in the number of unhoused people, although the results of the federally mandated point-in-time homeless count conducted in January won’t be officially published for weeks or months. Collins-Dyke blames “a rise in housing insecurity, an increase in evictions and ongoing problems that many people are facing when it comes to mental health and substance abuse.”

Casey points out that the point-in-time count could omit people who sought temporary shelter during the winter, making the actual number of unhoused people in the county likely higher. To account for this, the county will conduct quarterly counts starting this year. Meanwhile, federal assistance funding provided during the pandemic is drying up, while evictions are surging and the state faces a shortage of over 123,000 rental units, putting more people at risk of losing their housing.

Among other efforts to prevent people from falling into homelessness, the county launched a Right to Counsel program that provides legal resources and representation to people facing eviction and a housing assistance program for low-income residents.

Thursday, February 2, 2023 in Urban Milwaukee

Large historic homes and white picket fences line a street.

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

March 23, 2023 - The Washington Post

Amtrak Acela Express train passing through Harrison station in Newark, New Jersey

‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts

Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.

March 28, 2023 - StreetsBlog NYC

Buses in downtown Seattle on the dedicated 3rd Avenue bus lanes

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations

An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

March 28, 2023 - Axios

View of Statue of Liberty with New York City skyline in background

Immigration Grows, Population Drops in Many U.S. Counties

International immigration to the country’s most populous areas tripled even as major metropolitan areas continued to lose population.

March 31 - The New York Times

Detroit Sports Arena

$616 Million in Development Incentives Approved for District Detroit

The “Transformational Brownfield” incentives approved by the Detroit City Council for the $1.5 billion District Detroit still require approval by the state.

March 31 - Detroit Free Press

A red sign reads, “Welcome to New Canaan.”

Affordable Housing Development Rejected for Lack of Third Staircase in Connecticut

The New Canaan Planning Commission rejected a development proposal, including 31 below-market-rate apartments, for lack of a third staircase, among other reasons, at a time when advocates are pushing to relax two-staircase requirements.

March 31 - Stamford Advocate

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.