Milwaukee County Budget: Health and Human Services
At $172M total expenses, the various Health and Human Services included here are less than the $235M total from Behavioral Health. Here, we have about $100M from Children’s Services, $56M in Aging and Disabilities, and $36M in Housing. About 25% of this is covered by taxes, and like Behavioral Health, these are covered by a hodgepodge of confusing programs.
When I had read this section’s title, I was expecting a county hospital or health insurance for county workers. Instead, it’s a lot more “human services” than “health.” The Children’s Services are largely for the Youth Detention Center and “youth justice system,” and the Housing is all housing, not health. Even the services for the Aging are more for those that need meals, eviction protection, energy bill assistance, etc. Only some of the funds are for those living in five of the county-owned senior centers.
This could all be money well-spent, but I don’t think the name is very good. When I think of HHS, I think of the federal Cabinet agency. Some of the eviction and energy assistance reminds me more of HUD (Housing and Urban Development), or the youth’s justice system sounds like the DOJ. Weird to see if here.
