Homelessness in La Crosse and Karuna's big gala with Julie McDermid

A Taste of Home gala and a great conversation about homelessness in La Crosse with Julie McDermid, the executive director at Karuna, who was in the WIZM studio recently. McDermid talks about how Karuna takes a different approach to helping those experiencing homelessness, mental health crises and struggling with substance use. The Karuna house in La Crosse is home to multiple people, where they can get 24-7 help they need to get back on their own.  That can be costly and that’s part of the reason for Saturday’s Taste of Home gala, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the English Lutheran Church on King Street. Tickets are $100 for the fundraiser, which will feature local cuisine and featured drinks. Along with how Karuna helps, McDermid discusses the recent history of homelessness in La Crosse — from the Houska Park situation to getting hotel rooms in the frigid winter during COVID. Right now, Karuna has one site, where it’s helping multiple people, but McDermid hopes it can expand with a few more housing models — another reason for their second-annual Taste of Home gala. Who you'll see at the fundraiser will be cuisines from Mary Cody's, Pato Azul, Le Chateu and Mia's Kitchen. Also involved is TimeOut Tavern, the Beer By Bike Brigade and H+G grazing boards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.