MADISON, Wis. — The hardships of the pandemic have forced people out of their homes, put businesses out of work and increased unemployment rates. The Beacon staff have been working under more stressful conditions to try to help as many people as possible get back on their feet. “I don’t think people realize just how easy it is to become homeless,” said Beacon’s Community Partner Relations Specialist Nici Hawkins. Hawkins said she’s seen people from all walks of life asking for help over the past year. “A lot of businesses closed down, hours were cut,” she said. “So we do have quite a few people that were here for those reasons. Even people that were in transition to Madison for work and then they got here and the job was not available.”