Madison residents and UW-Madison students came together Saturday to open the first of a series of dialogues about homelessness in Madison and the city’s capacity for change.

Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. hosted the event with collaboration from UW-Madison students enrolled in a social work class that centers on homelessness.

Michael Arms, a Madison homeless man, said he thought respect between individuals is key to opening up the dialogue that will help solve the problem of homelessness and added the meeting was a definite success.

“There was so much energy and excitement and anticipation, and I really believe that they just raised our level of appetite for wanting to see a solution,” he said.

Donna Asif, head of the CNI Neighborhood Homelessness Committee, said she was “overflowing with gratitude” for the nearly 200 people that attended the meeting.

“Across the broad spectrum of this community, I heard fears about this event and this initiative,” she said, adding that community members carry the expertise and experience crucial to policy making.

Meeting attendees worked in small groups to come up with changes regarding homelessness that they hope to see.

Gigi Holland, a Madison resident, said she was concerned about her safety when approached by panhandlers downtown.

Holland said she hoped for the return of an initiative started a few years ago, in which fishbowls were placed on the counters of State Street businesses so customers could donate money that panhandlers on the street could come in and take.

Another concern was providing more 24-hour shelters around the city.

Madison doesn’t have many shelters that homeless people can stay at all day and night, said Megan Kloosterboer, a student in the social work class.

Kloosterboer said transitional housing, which is 24-hour housing, is difficult to get. Additionally, she said the city has tried to break up day shelters downtown because homeless people congregated near the shelters.

William Cox, a Madison homeless man, said moving to permanent housing will soon alleviate him from toting 200 pounds around everyday.

Cox called the meeting a good start, but added much work still needs to be done.

Asif said the next CNI Neighborhood Homelessness Committee meeting will be held at the Madison Public Library on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.