New homeless task force meets

GREEN BAY - A newly formed homeless task force met for the first time Thursday night at the Harmony Café in Green Bay.

It ultimately started because of the overcrowding issue at St. John the Evangelist shelter in Green Bay.

The group consists of dozens of area volunteers, elected officials and shelter representatives.

More than thirty people packed Harmony Café Thursday night.

All with the same objective, to address homelessness in the area.

"We're looking for longer-term solutions," explained Green Bay Alderman Mark Steuer. "We know we don't have a quick fix at all but we have different public, private, religious and citizen input."

Chair and Green Bay Alderman Mark Steuer organized the task force. He hopes to form sub-committees to tackle specific issues.

Those issues range from what leads to homelessness to housing and shelter.

"I think with this task force is to look at options for let's say, the 9 to 5 period of the day, when folks are out on the streets," Steuer said. "Maybe there are other programs, there are other directions we can take."

"Shelters have waiting lists, higher waiting list numbers than we've seen previously," explained DonElla Payne with the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition.

Payne says the issue seems to grow by the day.

"Freedom House at this point has 75 on their waiting list, that's a very high number, usually it runs 20 to 25," Payne said.

And even though she knows the issue is not something that can be completely resolved, she's hopeful the new task force can help.

"You know, I could be homeless tomorrow. You could be homeless tomorrow. That education part is vital for this," Payne explained.

Because this group has no ties to any specific governmental body, it has no authority.

Even so, Steuer hopes to provide guidance and recommendations to area municipalities.