Unlike most U.S. communities, Milwaukee County has managed to make significant progress toward assisting unhoused residents through a Housing First approach.
For the last decade, Milwaukee County has been bucking a national trend, effectively reducing the number of homeless residents and assisting people with supportive services.
In a piece for Governing, Carl Smith explains how the county’s Housing First approach helped it reduce unsheltered homelessness by 92 percent in the program’s first five years. “By the 2021 HUD count, the county had the nation’s lowest per-capita unsheltered homeless population. Savings to behavioral health and criminal justice systems are also tracked; to date Milwaukee County's Housing First program has saved taxpayers more than $30 million,” Smith adds.
When housing became harder to find in 2023, the city hired a landlord engagement coordinator to incentivize property owners and identify vacancies. Assistance programs also depend heavily on local collaboration. For example, the Milwaukee Downtown business improvement district (BID) funds a homeless outreach coordinator position and two public service ambassadors.
FULL STORY: Year After Year, Milwaukee Manages to Reduce Homelessness
Milwaukee Homelessness Dropped in 2024
Bucking national trends, Milwaukee reduced homelessness in 2024 through Housing First policies and supportive services, but local advocates warn high housing costs will likely lead to an increase in the unhoused population in the coming year.
Indianapolis Falls Short of 2018 Goal to End Long-Term Homelessness
The city’s progress in building supportive housing units has not kept up with the rising numbers of residents experiencing homelessness.
More Cities, States Criminalizing Homelessness
As the number of unhoused Americans grows, some jurisdictions are going against the advice of advocates and imposing harsh penalties for sleeping in public spaces.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
Zero-Emission Bus Fleets Grow, But Federal Funding Is in Jeopardy
Transit agencies around the country have purchased over 7,000 zero-emission buses, but a federal program that funds the shift could be eliminated under the new administration.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
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.
Strategic Economics Inc
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service