City Hall
400 La Crosse Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin
Meeting Minutes
Human Rights Commission
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
5:15 PM
Eagle Room
Call to Order
Littlejohn called the meeting to order at 5:26 pm.
Roll Call
5 - Tracy Littlejohn, Julia McDermid, Mac Kiel, Gretchen Guinn
Paquette,Claire Bakalars
Present:
2 - A Xiong,Tashyra Bernard
Excused:
Approval of Minutes
McDermid motioned to approve the minutes, Paquette seconded. The motion
carried by a voice vote.
Agenda Items:
Presentation on Winter Homelessness Emergency Plan
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Brian Sampson provided overview. Criteria include severe weather warnings from
the National Weather Service for blizzards, wind chill and extreme cold. The capacity
of the facility is 40 people and past total use has reached 38 people.
Monthly Updates From RET, REACH, and Homelessness Coordinator
Northwood sent a message stating: The REACH Center has two new client meeting
rooms up and ready to go since the renovations. The Homeless Persons Memorial
will be held at REACH on December 21, from 1-3 pm. There is a tree with memorial
ornaments set up in the front foyer for folx that would like to stop by. The Total
Navigation Team meets on Tuesdays from 10-2 pm and can connect folx with
services and case management. If anyone is working with folx that need items
available at Goodwill, REACH has Good Neighbor cards to help meet those needs.
Discussion and direction on adding "homelessness status" to the list of
protected classes in the municipal code.
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Attachments:
Staff provided an overview and will compile a list of communities that include
homelessness and why. Littlejohn suggested including news articles. Kiel suggested
adding education about why this is being included, and coordinating with Sampson to
keep language consistent with homelessness plan.
