Putting the pieces together for affordable housing
It takes a full-time job at $12.22 per hour to afford a moderately priced ($635 per month) two-bedroom apartment in Wisconsin. — National Low-income Housing Coalition
For someone who claims she's not good with puzzles, Trinke McNurlin knew how to fit the pieces together to improve the housing situation in Sawyer County.
Lack of affordable housing
In 2001, McNurlin, University of Wisconsin-Extension family living educator, wrote to local agencies voicing her concern about the lack of affordable housing in the county. The poor and elderly were in a state of crisis. "I wasn't even asking for responses to my letter, but I received 27 in 24 hours, so I knew this was a hot-button issue," says McNurlin.
Developing partnerships
Knowing that key partners would need to be involved to change things, McNurlin and UW-Extension educators developed stronger relationships with community agencies that could play a role.
"Gradually we moved beyond networking to collaborating," McNurlin says. "And informally, we developed a web of support by accomplishing small goals along the way."
In 2002, the efforts of McNurlin and her colleagues bore fruit with the establishment of Sawyer County ACCESS (Advocating Community Collaborative Emergency Service Strategies), a group of 17 local stakeholders dedicated to expanding housing resources.
Building public awareness
In 2005, Salvation Army representative Debbie Huebner was exploring the feasibility of opening a housing shelter in Hayward and attended an ACCESS meeting to gather information. Because ACCESS had already built a solid reputation, it was in a position to work with the Salvation Army to make the shelter a reality. "I like to think that opportunity is where luck and preparedness meet," says McNurlin.
McNurlin proceeded to put the issue in the public eye by speaking on local radio stations and writing newspaper articles on the area's lack of affordable housing. She also garnered financial support and sponsorship from local businesses by holding poverty simulations and providing data on the lack of affordable housing, food insecurity and joblessness in the area. Hope for the homeless
Hope for the homeless
With the support of the community, including a private contributor, the Elizabeth Home of Hope opened its doors in May 2006. The two-unit duplex now provides a 45-day program for homeless individuals and families, operates at peak capacity, and maintains a waiting list. The Salvation Army manages the home while working closely with its partners in ACCESS.
UW-Extension's role at Elizabeth Home is ongoing as family living educators teach residents about money management, housing, employment and nutrition. —Meg Gores
For more information:
Family Living Educator Trinke McNurlin,
trinke.mcnurlin@ces.uwex.edu, (715) 634-4839