GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – You may not always see them, but experts say there are more and more people that are homeless in our community.
The Greater Green Bay Community Housing Initiative Task Force created a Blueprint to Prevent and End Homelessness in the fall of 2021.
An update was given Monday night at the city’s policy committee meeting regarding the progress of the groups three-to-five-year plan.
“We did a point in time count in January, and I believe we have 41 people that were unsheltered at that point in time. We do two point in time counts throughout the year — we have another one coming up at the end of July,” explained the Blueprint Project Director Lydia Van Thiel.
The number of those staying in shelters and involved in programs is much higher.
“We have anywhere between 800 to 900 folks experiencing homelessness, but those are individuals who are actively engaged in services,” said House of Hope Community Engagement Director Beth Hudak.
Van Thiel gave an update on the efforts.
“We’ve done a lot of collaborating within the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition as well as tying in more community partners and trying to bring more people into this issue and really addressing this larger community problem.”
Van Thiel says one of the main problems that still needs to be addressed is affordable housing.
“Housing insecurity really stems from a lack of affordable housing. Build more housing in the community especially more affordable housing.”
“Because we are seeing inflated housing prices — that means that people who could afford larger houses are having to get smaller houses and those people who could afford smaller houses are now renting apartments, which doesn’t leave apartments for people in lower income brackets,” said Hudak.
Other issues the group is still looking to expand on are increased mental health services, homelessness prevention and awareness.
But Van Thiel says support from the city is necessary, including housing development, landlord and tenant trainings and supportive childcare.
“Also, exploring a homeless port to decrease ticketing of those experiencing homelessness and use the money saved to increase diversion programming.”
Van Thiel says she also hopes to give an update at the common council meeting as well.
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