GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay is looking to partner with St. John’s Homeless shelter to bring some of their resources to help the unsheltered population that grew because of Covid-19.
The Parks Committee gave the okay to approve the plan, but are hoping more questions can be answered before the City Council gives its blessing.
Last summer, 131 calls were made to Green Bay Police about activity at St. John’s Park. Now, both Green Bay and St. John’s homeless shelter want to address the problem at the city-owned park.
“Summer of 2020, if you were driving by or had any idea what was going on at the park, you knew it was not an ideal situation,” said Matt Kadlec, Associate Executive Director with St. John’s Shelter.” It was just not safe at all or sanitary. We really feel like we can be a solution.”
The overall goal of the program is to help people that may have been coming to the park, but not necessarily wanting to cross the street and get help in the shelter.
“This I feel like is meeting them out where they’re at, where they’re comfortable,” said Kadlec.
Under the proposal, the shelter would offer various programming from 7a.m. until 5 p.m. Between 5 to 8 p.m., a community partner would come and offer other services.
However, to enter the park, Kadlec tells FOX 11 people would be asked to sign a “code of conduct,” saying they will follow park rules that are already in place by the City.
“That’s essentially a sheet of paper that’s holding everyone who uses the park accountable to following park rules that have already been put in place.”
However, Aldermen Jesse Brunette questioned if a Code of Conduct was fair to have at one park, and not all others.
“Signing a piece of paper to be allowed to enter a City Park doesn’t sit right with me. But, I like the accountability piece.”
The City indicated it will have its legal department review the plans. Another concern brought up was whether creating another resource would attract and grow the homeless population.
“I’ll publicly say that we’ll help anyone here who needs help but we will not become an attraction for anyone to come here cause that will just domino overall and overwhelm us,” said Green Bay Alder Chris Wery.
St. John’s Homeless shelter officials says they hope this program will reduce the homeless numbers the city has seen rise during Covid-19.
The Parks Committee recommended the plan to the full city council. It includes the suggestion to have a 2 or 3 month check-in on the pilot program’s effectiveness.
The Council meets next Tuesday.
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