Milwaukee – After facing a fierce backlash a policy many in Milwaukee called ridicules, the American Red Cross of Wisconsin will return to providing on-site volunteers to all house fire victims in Milwaukee.
The Red Cross changed its policy asking firefighters provide a referral card to families affected by house fires in 10 Milwaukee ZIP codes, mostly located in the Latino and Black community.
Volunteers would then meet with families at nearby police stations or the Red Cross office instead of responding on-site as they had in the past.
“We recently implemented new procedures in Milwaukee that we now understand were insensitive to the communities we serve,” Patty Flowers, Red Cross regional chief executive, said in a statement.
“The Red Cross will continue to help people in need after a home fire as soon as possible regardless of ZIP code,” she said.
Mayor Tom Barrett announced the change during a City Hall news conference Wednesday, adding he had urged the Red Cross to rescind its new procedure.
“I think this was a situation where initially they made a decision. They didn’t, I think, understand the ramifications of the decision and how it would be perceived,” Barrett said.
Residents and local elected leaders in those areas decried the change, with Ald. Khalif Rainey calling it a “slap in the face.”
