Milestone in effort to end chronic homelessness in Milwaukee: 45 people placed in homes

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele has announced a major milestone in the plan to end chronic homeless.

The initiative involving Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee began in July.

Since then, 45 people have already been successfully placed in housing, and another 30 are in the process of choosing housing.

The goal was to place 100 people in permanent housing during the initiative's first year. Officials now expect to reach that goal in six months.

"We put a stake in the ground and said 'we don't want to just reduce this problem by 20%. We just don't want to make a dent. We just don't want to have a summit or put out a press release. We want to get to functional zero,'" Abele said.

Abele says they hope to reach that goal in three years.

Someone is considered chronically homeless when they've been without a home for a year or longer, or, when they've had at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years, along with a disability.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Milwaukee County Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.