MILWAUKEE – The variety of tents in Milwaukee’s MacArthur Sq. is rising. Milwaukee’s downtown enterprise district mentioned one nonprofit is partly in charge for the rising homeless inhabitants.

Milwaukee’s Downtown Enterprise Enchancment District and the Road Angels say they’ve the identical objective: Eradicating homelessness in Milwaukee. Nonetheless, they disagree on tips on how to get there and the place sources ought to go.

FOX6 discovered dozens of tents and a BBQ going at MacArthur Sq. Monday afternoon, Oct. 10. Among the tents got here from the Road Angels.

“These are the tents we hand out,” mentioned Eva Welch, government co-director. “They’re very small, one-man, barely one-man tents.”

The Road Angels’ buses are stocked with provides. They hand all of them out all throughout Milwaukee County three nights per week. They are saying they assist on-average 200 folks an evening.

“Folks nonetheless have to survive open air, and in Wisconsin, typically, which means a tent and a blanket.”

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Milwaukee’s downtown Enterprise Enchancment District believes that’s having unintended penalties, like conserving folks from turning in direction of long-term options. The BID’s CEO talked with FOX6 about it over the telephone, Beth Weirick.

“People which will say, ‘Certain, I’m concerned with housing,’ after which the following day they are saying, ‘No, I’ve a tent now and my pals are bringing me meals thrice per week, so I’m good.’”

Weirick mentioned Monday their companions with town’s Housing First program have been engaged on drafting a letter, urging group leaders to dedicate sources to shelters and housing as an alternative of organizations just like the Road Angels.

“If we’re going to spend cash on sources, let’s spend cash on the sources to actually, actually finish homelessness,” mentioned Weirick. 

Welch mentioned the Road Angels additionally work to attach folks with housing, however there is not sufficient to go round. She mentioned till extra housing is accessible, they’re going to do what they will to make sleeping exterior as snug as attainable.

“Tents don’t trigger or allow homelessness,” mentioned Welch. “What they do present is slightly little bit of dignity, slightly little bit of safety, and slightly bit of heat.”

It is unclear what number of teams are concerned in writing the letter urging sources to not go to the Road Angels. 

FOX6 Information reached out to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s workplace. A spokesperson mentioned he was unaware of any letter and mentioned questions needs to be directed to Steve Mahan, town’s high official on homeless points. FOX6 Information despatched him an inventory of questions on this however has not acquired a response. 

Full Assertion from Beth Weirick, Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 CEO: 

“Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 acknowledges the challenges and complexities find housing
options for our unsheltered inhabitants. Packages that concentrate on housing as a primary step towards
stabilization have confirmed efficient in making an affect – not solely in our group, however cities
nationwide.

Whereas there are organizations which can be properly meant in offering fundamental wants reminiscent of tents and meals, there are unintended penalties to their actions. Neighborhood sources needs to be centered on long-term options to finish homelessness – options that present our unsheltered residents with dignity, everlasting housing, and wraparound companies.

Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 stays dedicated to working with Milwaukee County Housing
Division in addressing a person’s total well-being. At present, our group funds a full-time Downtown Homeless Outreach Coordinator and a full-time Public Service Ambassador Outreach Coordinator to help Milwaukee County Housing Division of their mission.

Elevating consciousness on the success of Housing First and the sources that exist by Milwaukee County Housing Division are a precedence for our group. We encourage the residents of Milwaukee to steer with a bigger imaginative and prescient and we advocate for the funding of sources into offering everlasting shelter and wraparound companies.”