The new Safe Haven Hope Center building on S Jefferson Street in Green Bay, Apr. 5, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Safe Haven Hope Center, a new homeless shelter, has now opened its doors to house nine people.
Executive Director and Housing Director Cathi Oreto says excluding payroll, the shelter will cost approximately $5,000 per month. Despite the new space, Safe Haven still can’t accommodate everyone they’ve been housing.
“We have 18 people and we can only have nine here. So, we still have three motel rooms,” said Oreto.
She added the rooms cost $90 per night while the shelter is still relying on donations and out of pocket expenses from its founders.
“I have a folder in my car that has receipts from every stinking thing. I can be as transparent as you want. We’re broke, still broke. I had enough money in our account from what came in the last week to be able to pay for the rooms. Because we don’t have any funding. So far, it’s been crowdfunding,” said Oreto.
Although, Oreto says now that the shelter has a location, Safe Haven has started to explore grant funding.
For Oreto, the idea of running a shelter isn’t new.
“Right now, it seems like this came together really quickly. To be honest with you, this has been in my head for 20 years,” said Oreto.
The City of Green Bay gave the shelter a temporary use permit on April 3.
“That’s been a more in-depth process than I was anticipating. But I’m grateful for that because it’s been really helpful to start to prepare us for the conditional use permit process,” said Oreto.
A conditional use permit will be required for the shelter to operate after June 30. To acquire a conditional use permit before then, Safe Haven must submit its application by May 13.
The application would require approval from the Plan Commission. It would then go to the Common Council for final approval.
In order for Safe Haven Hope Center to get a conditional use permit, one step it must first take is hosting a meeting to answer questions for property owners within 400 feet of the parcel.
“So that everyone within 400 feet knows exactly what we’re doing, what our plan is, and how it will affect them. Which, they should,” said Oreto.
State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Gillett owns the property next door and has voiced concerns about the new shelter.
A statement from Wimberger’s office reads:
Before I entered politics and moved out of the city, my Green Bay property was intended to be a home office that I would renovate and build a life with. I started with only debt in life and I sunk everything I saved into that property, which isn’t much. Like any property owner, I am highly concerned about the neighborhood. NEWCAP, despite its massive failings, courteously maintained the property next door that shares a driveway. They made sure to have supervision, and the residents were families with children and abuse survivors. It was good to see people motivated to get themselves back on their feet be given that helping hand.
Safe Haven has not once contacted neighboring property owners, and no one knows who or what is going on there in any detail. In media, they claim to be a “low barrier shelter for those who have been kicked out of other shelters” for drug abuse or sometimes violent offenses. I have serious safety concerns for nearby residents, myself, and those who say they’d like to help.
I will not tolerate violations of the law in the neighborhood, and clearly expressed this view. I video monitor the property, and will report any such violations to the police. If desiring lawful behavior is a threat to their permit, perhaps they should reflect on who they plan to house.
Oreto says the shelter wants to introduce itself to the surrounding community.
She added, “Say ‘Hey, here’s who we are. Here’s what we’re doing. Is there some way we can help you or be a benefit to you,’ right? Because that’s what we want to do here is be a benefit to the neighborhood.”
The shelter addresses substances in its policy manual. The manual states, “Substances are not permitted to be used within shared interior spaces; however, substance use is addressed through harm reduction, safety planning, and support, rather than immediate discharge.” Also, “Guests who attempt to bring alcohol, drugs or drug paraphernalia into SHHC will have items confiscated.”
Oreto says she has already reached out to multiple neighborhood associations. Her goal is to benefit those in the shelter and the community through positive interaction.
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