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Bridge Street Mission to run Wausau emergency shelter; volunteers and a public commenter raise concerns about treatment
Summary
City staff told the committee Bridge Street Mission will operate Wausau's emergency shelter and outreach center starting around April 20; volunteers described high volunteer hours and a commenter alleged repeated unethical treatment of shelter guests and asked the Police and Fire Commission to investigate.
Wausau officials told the Public Health and Safety Committee on March 23 that Bridge Street Mission will assume operation of the city's emergency shelter and an outreach day center in late April, with staff expecting the move around April 20 if contractors confirm the schedule.
Tracy Gerante, who works at the shelter, said volunteers provided more than 740 hours of assistance in February and noted the WMC shelter recorded 415 unduplicated guests since it opened. "Without that support from our community we would not be operational," she told the committee.
James Torstenson, Bridge Street Mission's director of homeless services, said the outreach center will operate roughly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and provide daily meals and a place for people to get services. He said Bridge Street expects construction to finish in April and that an extension with First United Methodist Church is in place through April 19 to prevent a gap in shelter services during the transition.
During public comment after the formal agenda, volunteer Carrie Marola (1025 Everest Blvd) alleged multiple instances in which 911 had to be called to the shelter, and said staff and volunteers had treated some guests unethically and that her prior complaints over 10 months had not been resolved. "I have found none of those...apply and I am very saddened," Marola said, asking the committee to take notice.
Committee members responded that there is an official complaint and oversight mechanism for police and shelter operations through the Police and Fire Commission and advised the commenter to use that process; the committee did not take further action at the meeting.
The committee asked staff to coordinate a tour and a ribbon-cutting visit with Bridge Street Mission once the facility is ready and agreed it would be useful for newly seated council members to see the facility.
