Family Keys: Keeping Families Housed and Together

La Crosse County was one of three counties selected by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to pilot Family Keys, a program that helps families engaged with Child Protective Services secure stable housing.

Background: Last year, 13 families in La Crosse County enrolled in Family Keys. Many had experienced homelessness, which, while not a reason for child removal on its own, can be a complicating factor that increases the risk of foster care placement or delays reunification. "I shudder to think what would have happened to me and my daughter if it wasn't for the program," says Shawn, a father helped by Family Keys.

Success: In 2024, every participating family remained housed and together—with zero out-of-home placements. Some secured subsidized housing, others found full-time jobs, and others took over rental leases with program support. Keeping families housed is not only better for children, but also more cost-effective than foster care. “You need a mix to make things sustainable,” says Isaac Hoffman, Director of the La Crosse Area Family Collaborative. Since the pilot launched in 2022, a total of 24 families have participated.

Future plans: The county plans to continue the Family Keys concept beyond the pilot period, utilizing housing from Thriving Families, a $3 million county-funded initiative. Catholic Charities and Couleecap are using the funds to purchase units for supportive family housing.

Watch the video above to hear from three moms who participated in Family Keys. A second video, which you can view here, gives an overview of the program in the three counties selected for the pilot (La Crosse, Marathon, and Wood counties).

30 Conservation Projects Completed in 2024

La Crosse County’s Land Conservation Department partnered with landowners on 30 projects in 2024 to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.

Investment: A total of $445,000 funded these efforts, including $247,000 in federal funding, $102,000 from the state, $81,000 from La Crosse County, and $15,000 contributed by landowners.

Preserving farmland: Projects included dams, grassed waterways, and lined waterways throughout rural La Crosse County. These improvements help preserve farmland, mitigate flood impacts, and reduce runoff into local rivers and streams.

More to come: Looking ahead, the Land Conservation team plans 38 new projects in 2025, continuing its work alongside landowners to support farmers while protecting our natural resources.

Pathways Home, our city-county homeless response plan, recently hit a significant milestone—over 100 households have secured housing since its launch last year. This progress would not have been possible without the dedication of our many community partners. Watch for updates on new specialized housing units and expanded support services planned for this year. View the Pathways Home dashboard here.

Great Rivers United Way Campaign Coordinator Tim Medinger visited the County Administrative Center last week to thank county employees for their contributions to the annual United Way Campaign. Employees raised $17,246, surpassing the $15,000 goal. Tim is pictured above with County Administrator Jane Klekamp.

Three resolutions in support of broadband infrastructure projects will be on the La Crosse County Board agenda this Thursday. These projects, proposed by private companies, aim to secure federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding to expand high-speed internet access across the county.

Project Details:

• Brightspeed: This project would extend broadband to 2,226 locations in the Towns of Bangor, Barre, Burns, Campbell, Farmington, Greenfield, Hamilton, Holland, Medary, Onalaska, and Shelby. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Lynxx: Covering over 1,000 locations in the Towns of Barre, Burns, Farmington, Greenfield, Hamilton, and Onalaska, Lynxx's proposed project also has an expected construction start date in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services: This initiative would expand service to areas in the Towns of Farmington and Burns, with broadband expected to be available by late 2026.

By passing resolutions of support for these projects, the County Board will strengthen efforts to secure federal funding. County staff have been actively positioning La Crosse County to capitalize on these opportunities. Broadband expansion is one of the goals in the county's strategic plan.

Kristie Tweed was sworn in last week by Judge Scott Horne as the La Crosse County Board Supervisor for District 24. Supervisor Tweed steps into the role following Kevin Hoyer's recent departure from the board. Thank you to Kevin for his service to the community and to Supervisor Tweed for stepping up to join the board. You can view details on county board members and district maps here.

Caregiver Education Series