A housing-first initiative in Dane County, Wisconsin hopes to cut homelessness in half in five years, the Wisconsin State Journal reported on April 12.

The initiative is based on a plan created by the Dane County Homeless Services Consortium, a group representing the city, county, faith-based groups and nonprofits. The plan derives some of its suggestions from the best practices of other communities, including the Rapid Exit program in Hennepin County, Minnesota and Project HOME in Philadelphia.

Formally unveiled on April 11, the initiative is expected to reduce reliance on emergency shelters and increase emphasis on prevention. Improved training, collaboration between service providers and increased funding from federal, local and private sources will be the keys to the plan's success.

"We're talking about changing the way we deliver services and the type of services," said Nan Cnare, vice president for community building at United Way, an organization that supports the new initiative. "We are saying in this plan ... it is not acceptable to have homelessness in our community."

The plan's formation began with a community conversation in March 2005 titled "Housing for All."

The overall cost and funding for the project are yet to be determined, but the city is expected to use its Affordable Housing Trust Fund to provide forty units of housing.

Demands for substance use treatment, child care and mental health treatment far exceed available resources, said Steven Schooler, executive director of the homeless services provider, Porchlight.

"This is not going to be easy. Nor is it going to be cheap," said Schooler. "However, the consequences, socially and fiscally, of doing nothing are far more expensive."