Diocese proposes shelter solution

GREEN BAY - There may be a solution to the overcrowding issue at a Green Bay homeless shelter if the Catholic Diocese gets its way.

For the last few weeks, the St. John the Evangelist shelter near downtown has been facing a daily citation for having more than 64 overnight residents. Shelter leaders say an answer to the overcrowding problem may be in two rooms.

“We have another part of the building here on the west side of the building. Another two classrooms that can accommodate an additional 20 people,” shelter executive director Alexia Wood said.

Now, shelter leaders want to make it legal.

“Our intention is to re-open the conditional use permit and look to increase our bed capacity to 84,” Wood said.

The 20 beds are part of the shelter's original emergency overflow plan.

“We will, when necessary, house 84 guests at St. John's and then use First United Methodist Church as an overflow for women when our numbers exceed 84,” Wood said.

The city has cited the shelter for operating in violation of its permit with the city. That permit allows 64 overnight guests. Since before Christmas, extra guests were staying in this gymnasium at St. Norbert College in nearby De Pere. Students will be back from winter break next week, and the homeless will have to find another place to stay.

“We've received the summons from municipal court. We have not received a notification of any fine. That's what will be resolved in the municipal court process,” Deacon Tim Reilly of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay said.

Meanwhile, shelter attorneys will petition the city for the increased capacity.

“Now that they've upgraded them, this issue has to go through the inspection department and the legal department of the city,” Ald. Dave Boyce said.

“We just want to make sure that our ministry reflects what's going on within the government,” Reilly said.

The battle over violating shelter capacity is now in Green Bay municipal court. With the shelter pleading not guilty, a pretrial conference has been scheduled for Feb. 5.