Homeless shelter capacity issue tabled

GREEN BAY - A request to raise the permit capacity for the homeless shelter at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church has been tabled.

On Monday night, St. John officials hoped the city's plan commission would agree to raise the shelter's capacity from 64 overnight residents to 84. Instead, the issue was tabled for 60 days.

“And then to walk through the door and have this new bombshell dropped on this, I think it was just, evidently people knew about this for four or five days and rather than calling us and letting us know what's going on, that's what's disappointing,” said Deacon Tim Reilly with the Green Bay Catholic Diocese.

Mayor Jim Schmitt says Deacon Reilly is the most difficult person he has had to work with in his ten years as Green Bay's leader. Schmitt says he wants Reilly removed from the negotiation process.

“The truth has not been told at every meeting from him and I asked the bishop to put someone in there who maybe has a fresh start, a fresh look at long-term homelessness for the county,” said Schmitt.

“The mayor has his right to say what he wants to say and if that's his judgment, I accept his judgment,” said Reilly.

Since December, the shelter has faced fines for accepting more guests than its permit calls for. City officials say they'll hold off on citations while both sides work toward a solution.

“They've been over capacity to the tune of $17,000,” said Schmitt. “We don't want to cite them, but we want resources put into the homeless.”

During the next 60 days, Schmitt says a newly formed committee for homelessness will look at solutions.

“We need a plan to care for these people during the day,” said Schmitt. “We need a plan to get these people connected with resources. We need a plan to really lift the lives of the homeless.”

Shelter officials say they'll continue taking 84 people at their shelter, while bringing extra guests to overflow centers.

As for Reilly, he says he doesn't expect to be replaced.

“I will work with the mayor and anybody else in the city, anybody else in the church,” said Reilly.

The earliest the capacity request can now be taken up is April 11th.

The shelter is scheduled to close for the season on April 30th.