Housing First Provider Couleecap Receives Funding for Permanent Supportive Housing
La Crosse, WI – Housing First Provider Couleecap Receives Funding for Permanent Supportive Housing
Couleecap, Inc., a leading nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty, has been awarded $751,926 in federal HUD funding for its Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program. The program, which uses a Housing First approach, ranked 1st and 3rd in a statewide competition based on past program results.
Couleecap has been a recipient of HUD funding for homeless housing support since 1989 and created the state’s first Housing First program in 2009. Housing First is an evidence-based model that prioritizes housing for people who are unsheltered, paired with supportive services tailored to their needs. The program has proven to be a life-changing solution for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness across western Wisconsin.
Couleecap’s Housing First PSH program addresses the critical need for long-term housing with wraparound supportive services for households experiencing chronic homelessness. These programs combine safe, stable housing with individualized case management, mental health support, substance use recovery assistance, job training, and other essential resources. The program’s holistic approach is designed to meet the needs of people with the highest barriers to housing – those who have been unhoused for weeks, months, or even years. This approach delivers measurable improvements in housing stability, health outcomes, and quality of life.
In the past year, Couleecap has assisted 327 people who identified as homeless or housing insecure. Of those households, 48 households were able to access Couleecap’s Permanent Supportive Housing. With new funding, Couleecap will continue to support residents and offer new housing opportunities for people in need.
Each year, Couleecap’s PSH programs compete in a statewide competition for funding. Programs are scored based on the results they produced.
Couleecap Program Highlights:
- 90% Housing Retention in Permanent Supportive Housing: 90% of participants have remained stably housed for 12 months or longer, demonstrating the effectiveness of permanent supportive housing as a long-term solution.
- Improved Health & Wellness: Participants report reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits, better mental health stability, and increased engagement with medical care providers. Many tenants also access other programs at Couleecap to assist with Social Security benefits, transportation, and food resources, and financial literacy. 80% of participants are connected to mainstream resources such as FoodShare and BadgerCare.
- Increased Independence: Many residents have pursued education, job training, and employment opportunities while receiving support through the program. 60% of participants were able to secure or increase their income.
- Community Impact: The program reduces strain on local emergency services and shelters, offering a cost-effective, compassionate alternative to the cycle of homelessness. The cost of maintaining someone in a state of homelessness can cause communities up to $45,000 a year per person. While permanent supportive housing is a mere percentage of that cost of about $17,000 per year to provide housing and services.
“Having a safe place to live was the first step. From there, I could focus on my health, find work, and finally start to feel hopeful about the future,” said one program participant.
Couleecap’s Executive Director, Hetti Brown, emphasized the importance of sustained support: “Permanent Supportive Housing through a Housing First approach works because it treats housing as a basic human right and then builds on that foundation with personalized services. It’s not just about ending homelessness—it’s about building lives and strengthening our communities.”
Becky Koske,Couleecap’s Housing & Community Services Director, states, “Something I’ve always been impressed with is the resilience of the individuals we serve and the innovation of our case managers. The changes that can happen in a person’s life once they no longer stress about the lack of a roof over their heads is amazing to see. While the program provides funding for a home, which is vital to housing stability, our case managers have to be creative and innovative to address the other needs of the household. We are very proud of our ability to effectively utilize limited resources to provide a comprehensive service that gets results and supports people as they rebuild their connections in the community.”
Couleecap continues to partner with Pathways Home, local governments, health providers, and community organizations to expand access to supportive housing and meet the growing demand across La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, and Crawford counties.
About Couleecap, Inc.
Couleecap is a nonprofit Community Action Program serving people and communities in need. Through housing, food security, employment, transportation, and community development initiatives, Couleecap fights poverty and helps people build better futures.
