Seal of Dane County County of Dane
Translate
County Executive's Office

Briarpatch Transitional Housing Cooperative Opens; Will Help Prevent Homelessness

September 22, 2014
County Board Vice Chair Carousel Bayrd, 608.658.7333
County Board

Northside Home Will House 10 Young Adults At Risk of Homelessness; Funding for Services Provided by Federal Grant

 

Just over a month after the Dane County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a home to provide transitional housing and help young adults avoid homelessness, the Briarpatch Transitional Housing Cooperative is up and running. Several young adults have already taken up residence there and are already receiving services.

 

County Board Vice Chair Carousel Bayrd joined County Executive Joe Parisi, other County Board Supervisors and leaders from Madison Community Cooperative and Briarpatch Youth Services (formerly Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin) on Monday announcing the opening on Madison’s north side.

 

The County has leased the 10-bedroom to MCC for $1 per year. MCC will partner with Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin to manage the facility and provide services such as job search support and financial literacy education.

 

"This project is about stability," said County Board Vice Chair Carousel Bayrd, who earmarked this funding in the county budget and was the lead sponsor to approve purchase. "It’s all about helping people get started on the right foot. Our community partners Madison Community Cooperative and Briarpatch Youth Services will provide wrap around services for the residents. They'll help people who've had challenges growing up, to get on their feet, get a job, keep a job, and learn how to live in a positive, cooperative environment."

 

“The long-term solution to almost any problem involves cooperation,” said County Executive Joe Parisi. “This purchase is the culmination of a long process of collaboration between our community partners, the County Board and my office. I’m proud of the way people in Dane County solve problems, and I look forward to seeing what our community partners can accomplish with this property.”

 

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Tyler Schueffner, Briarpatch Transitional Living Program coordinator. “Young adults who have been homeless, or who are at imminent risk for homelessness, have been overlooked and lumped into adult services for too long. We are proud of the hard work, dedication, and persistence of the collaborative partners which include Briarpatch Youth Services, Madison Community Cooperative, Operation Fresh Start, Operation Welcome Home, Madison Metropolitan School District, and Dane County to see this Cooperative, supportive housing program open its doors, beginning a new chapter in creative community-based programming that aims to change lives and provide meaningful support to a vulnerable population of young people.”

 

Youth Services recently secured a five-year, $186,000-per-year federal grant to provide services and operate the facility. The terms of the grant stated that the facility must be operational before September 30, 2014.

 

#              #              #

Back to Press Releases