The grant will expand housing, treatment and social work.
La Crosse County has been awarded a $350,000 deflection grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice to expand Pathways Home. The grant will fund the addition of a social worker and critical resources to help individuals access treatment, supportive services, and housing.
Pathways Home is the city-county homelessness response initiative launched last year. Since its launch, the program has helped house more than 160 people by working closely with local partners—and has built a new, more coordinated system to respond to homelessness in our community.
The new social worker will work directly with people facing substance use, mental health problems, or homelessness, diverting them from the criminal justice system to treatment and housing services. The $350,000 grant has the potential to grow to $500,000 and will fund services through August 2027.
Grant Goals:
--Engage at least 50 people annually through intensive, community-based case management.
--Provide housing placements for at least 15 individuals each year using grant funding for specialized housing.
--Ensure 75% of participants access treatment within 21 days of initial outreach.
--Reduce overdose deaths and justice system involvement through sustained engagement and coordinated care.
Long-Term Impact: The program is expected to generate significant cost savings by reducing jail bookings and lowering emergency room usage. These savings, along with improved outcomes for participants—including reduced homelessness—will support efforts to secure ongoing funding through Medicaid and other programs.
What’s Next: The grant is expected to go to the La Crosse County Board for approval next Thursday (July 17). If approved, the county will begin hiring and rolling out the program in the coming months. Congratulations to the Human Services staff who worked hard to secure this funding for our community.