Less than 24 hours after a Madison homeless man was found dead of hypothermia in a homemade shelter, community leaders, citizens, students and members of the Madison Warming Center Campaign met Thursday to discuss ways of improving the lives of the homeless in Madison.
After outlining efforts to fund a warming center for those who are unable to sleep in shelters, panel and community members discussed plans to better the lives of the homeless.
According to Ryan Spangler, an organizer for the forum, a Madison homeless man died of hypothermia Wednesday in his homemade shelter.
\We have to raise the public awareness of homelessness in Madison,"" said Nathan Fuller, an organizer of the event. ""Everyone deserves the basic human rights to shelter.""
Fuller, Ald. Austin King, District 8, and Ombudsman Andy Heidt criticized the current conditions of programs aimed at helping the homeless.
""Every year the city cuts funding to the homeless shelters because there are no political ramifications for not funding homeless shelters,"" King said.
""The homeless are an easy group for the city to ignore. The city wants nothing to do with the homeless, and there is absolutely no chance the city will fund a warming center,"" Heidt said.
Heidt and others like UW-Madison sophomore Laura Nelson also criticized the claims by the City of Madison that there are not enough funds to create another shelter.
""We just spent millions of dollars renovating State Street to make it look pretty ... trust me, there are funds,"" Nelson said.
Doug and Richard, two former homeless men, shared their frustrations with the current system in Madison and suggested changes to be made.
""Currently, there is only one space for the single men who need shelter, and it is filled to capacity at all times. The conditions in the shelter are unclean, and it was like living in a prison,"" Richard said.
Spangler said the current system sets individuals up for failure, arguing that those who want to succeed are being prevented from doing so, which results in a sense of resignation and depression.
Spangler urged students to write their city council members, protest the current living arrangements of the homeless and refuse to vote for candidates who cut funding for the homeless.
Heidt summed up the main problem he believes needs to be addressed by the city.
""The shelters and other temporary living conditions need to be a buildup towards a independent living. Somewhere along the line this chain of buildup has broken down, and we need to find out why,"" he said.
