Kenosha resident tells county board there is no emergency homeless shelter; says Shalom Center now provides transitional housing

Goita Brown, identifying herself with a Kenosha address, urged the Kenosha County Board to consider whether county funds were being allocated in the best way to serve people experiencing homelessness, and said the Shalom Center is a transitional living program rather than an emergency shelter.

Brown told the board the Shalom Center had planned capital expansion and that a recent city consolidated plan lists 57 emergency shelter beds for the Shalom Center — 15 fewer than an earlier plan for 72 beds — but that the Shalom Center currently describes its program as transitional rather than immediate emergency shelter. "Kenosha County has no emergency shelter for people who are homeless," Brown said, adding that the Shalom Center was once a place law enforcement could drop off people overnight but that is no longer an option.

Brown also said the Shalom Center's Hope Hub was intended to serve as emergency shelter during extreme weather events, but that the Hub's policy sets thresholds for extended hours based on wind chill or temperature (she cited a sustained wind chill of minus 34 degrees or a sustained temperature of minus 20 degrees) and that exceptions were made during the most recent winter. She said the hours of service at the Hope Hub had been further reduced despite rising need.

Her remarks were made during the citizens' comment period; no formal board action was taken in response during the meeting. Board members closed public comment and moved on to announcements and the budget discussion.