09/22/2025
I work for Housing Initiatives, Inc. It was founded over 30 years ago by two friends in Madison, WI who wanted to help people experiencing mental illness to be able to stay stably housed throughout the community.
We now house and serve up to 200 individuals in 146 different apartments dotted throughout Madison, and we now only house people who have a mental illness who are also experiencing homelessness, primarily chronically homeless through the Housing First list from Dane County. We also have a few apartments that are leased by Veterans experiencing homelessness and a mental illness through HUD/VASH housing vouchers.
The majority of these folks have only the clothes and things they have carried on their backs, having lost everything else when they lost their housing and became homeless. They are all disabled, but many have $0 income from SSI or SSDI, because it takes a lot of stability to be able to apply again and again until that income is granted.
When they get housed with us, we try to put together a "welcome home" laundry basket filled with many household essentials and we also try to get them a new combo mattress and metal bedframe, sheets, and pillows. This is to tide them over until they are able to get a furniture voucher from St. Vincent du Paul's and get some other items to furnish their homes- They get a card table and 2-4 chairs, an easy chair/arm chair, a sofa, and we try to supplement what the voucher provides by buying a dresser and some other things like a microwave or coffee maker... we do what we can with what we have to spend at the moment.
Surviving with $0 income is really hard for folks... but we try to help as much as we can- we have an essentials pantry in our office to help with cleaning supplies, hygiene items, toilet paper, garbage bags and other necessities.
If you would like to help these folks feel like they are "welcomed home", we have made an Amazon Wish List. (Link in the comments) and are able to accept some things that are gently used. (No Clothing Please!) I get a lot of the smaller things from Family Dollar store to stretch the budget- we are okay with used items that aren't stained or ripped and that have all of their parts- so if you are a thrifter, and see things that our folks could use in good condition- we appreciate you!
Here is a list of things we try to help new clients get to set up their home:
Towels
Sheets
Bedframe
Mattresses (Must be free of stains and rips)
Shower curtains
Plungers
Toilet brush
Shower curtain rings
Kitchen towels
hot pads
silverware
kitchen utensils
Dishes
Glasswear
Coffee Cups
Dish Rags
Small pots & pans
Laundry Detergent
Dryer Sheets
Laundry Baskets
Garbage Bins
Dressers
Wooden Tables (Smaller sized for 2-4 people)
Hand Soap
Dish Soap
Dish Drying Racks
Coffee Maker
Microwave
Clothing Hangers
Can Openers
Pizza Cutters
Potato Peelers
Shredder
Colander
Body Wash
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Deodorant
Shampoo
Lotion
Feminine Hygiene Products
Dog Food
Cat Food
Kitty Litter
