CUSH Local Issues
Affordable Housing
CUSH calls upon the City
and County to ensure that suitable housing options are available
to current YMCA residents upon the closing of the downtown
facility.
Emergency Assistance
CUSH calls for a
public/private partnership in Kenosha County to establish a
common, easily accessible point of entry for all people in need
of emergency assistance by early 2010.
Safe Schools
A Task Force for this issue
is in the research phase. Possible issues for further
development are: a Restorative Justice Program for high
schools, gang prevention advocacy, addressing "junk food" in
schools, and bullying concerns.
WISDOM/CUSH State Issues
Health Care
In the past year, WISDOM
leaders have gotten very involved in issues
surrounding Health Care reform. In many
cities, we have held forums and events and meetings
with legislators. Our goal is to ensure that
the voices of those most affected by the health care
crisis are heard, and to ensure that the moral
dimensions of the debate--which have been
articulated by most of our religious
denominations--are held up as at least as important
as the economic dimensions.
In the summer of 2009, the
Gamaliel Foundation joined with many other
faith-based groups for a major health care event in
Washington DC.
Treatment Instead of Prison
(TIP)
The TIP campaign is an attempt
to change priorities in Wisconsin. WISDOM
believes that far too many people are in our jails
and prisons. Specifically, we believe that
there needs to be more alternatives available for
community-based treatment programs for non-violent
offenders whose main problem is mental illness or
addiction.
Civil Rights of Immigrants
WISDOM has been among the
leaders in the Gamaliel Foundation in the push for
sensible and compassionate Comprehensive Immigration
Reform. We believe in the importance of the
rule of law, but as people of faith we believe that
laws need to respect human dignity, family unity and
compassion.
School Funding Reform
WISDOM has long had a great
concern for public schools in our state.
Specifically, we have worked to try to make the
means of funding schools both adequate (that there
is enough money available to offer excellent
education to all our children) and equitable (that
the means of paying for it is fair). WISDOM is
one of the founding members of WAES (Wisconsin
Alliance for Excellent Schools).
