I certainly agree with you, rodrigo, both about the insensitive and about the empathetic. I think anyone who works in a field that has the responsibilty of getting people out of trouble (economic-including homelessness and hunger, medical, legal...), maybe especially the volunteer who often starts out as an idealist, has the potential to become jaded. Maybe one cause is the stress of too much responsibility with too few resources, and maybe, it must be admitted, witnessing too many people trying to "work the system". These are the people who need to step back and let fresh Samaritans take over. It's no good to stay in your volunteer position if you begin to despise the very people you once wanted to help. And that's why everyone should give some time (and whatever resources he/she can afford) to his/her community or favored charity.
But someone in the situation as described by melstew, low wages and no money for anything besides keeping a roof over her head, should be eligible for at the very least some food assistance. Of course, that's all I know about that situation, but I'm quite certain that there is an ample supply of food in Rock County for the circumstances described by her.

I work closely with several of the agencies named above, and while they are certainly there to help (and are definately forced to be choosy about who they help due to being limited in resources), there are also plenty of people who work in these agencies who are insensitive in the way they deal with people who are seeking their services. Most of them are empathetic and respectful, but some simply aren't, and bad attitudes have no place in the helping field.

meilstew, who are "these people" and "they" you are speaking of? From the above list? Surely you (or your friend) have not had experience with all of them.
Serious question, because I believe there is some help (especially food) available to her or to anyone who is in legitimate need; she (apparently) just hasn't found it yet.

well puffer i dont think some one thats complaining about their back hurting trumps someone with chest pain.as far as them feeling bad about picking and choosing,think again.they have no problem getting smart with you,they made my friend cry,because she paid her rent and needed food,and they said she made to much money to be there,and this would be the last time they helped her,now mind you shes a cashier at 750 and hour,so dont give me no defense for these people.

These charities have limited resources and can not help every single person. Just like in the emergency room, those who are most critical get help first. I'd say being homeless takes priority over someone falling behind in their rent. I'm sure they have a tough time picking and choosing, but they have no other choice.

SO have they now decided that you must have a mental illness or a substance abuse problem to deserve their help? I mean if I had either of those problems then I could decide to get help from the county or whatever and be put in a facility for my problem, receive the help I need to overcome my problem, be housed and fed while attempting to do that and then be rehabilitated to enter the public and obtain a job and a home problem free right?

What about the people that JUST CAN'T make? Not because they aren't trying but because there aren't enough jobs and because expenses (general expenses like rent, gas, food, water and electric) are too high! GOOD freaking grief!

Rodrigo: Ignore my question to you; I found the report and the data. Thanks anyway.

Rodrigo: How did you get that understanding out of the article's last sentence?

The 12% is the percentage of the total homeless population who are chronically homeless. In other words, for every 100 homeless people, 12 are chronically homeless.

A 1.2% rate would make more sense, thanks Janesvillean.
I don't know how all the organizations spend the money they get, but the couple I know about spend it pretty wisely. There's also many volunteers who not only give their time, but money as well.

ill tell you whats hard to believe is that they recieve all this grant money and then when someone goes and asks for assistance they tell they dont have the funds. lol. i often wonder what they do with all that money. dont you? i have friends that are less fornunate than iam,and when theyve asked for help, they were told we dont have the funds. well you got the funds now,so lets see how many people they tell, we dont have the funds at this time.

sannio, I believe that has to be a typo for 1.2%, which would track with other estimates of the state's homeless population (30-50,000 or so).
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btw, "disbursed" is similar to "dispersed" but it means money taken from a purse or fund. *cough*

It's hard to imagine a 12% homeless rate in Wisconsin. That's pretty high I would think. Epidemic even.