Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Warming Shelter topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge council to rethink Mount Hope warming shelter across from Franklin Elementary
Summary
Multiple West Allis residents told the council they support warming shelters but object to a proposed site at Mount Hope Lutheran Church because it is adjacent to Franklin Elementary and Central High School, lacks nearby services and could create safety and access issues for children and neighbors.
At the July 21 West Allis Common Council meeting, several residents urged the city to reconsider a proposal to operate a warming shelter at Mount Hope Lutheran Church, saying the site is too close to Franklin Elementary and Central High School and lacks services needed to support people experiencing homelessness.
"It's the wrong location," said Cindy Radke (8519 West Beecher Street), who told the council the shelter plan — described in community meetings as running from the day after Thanksgiving through the end of March with hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — would place people in a residential area without wraparound services, public restrooms or direct transportation. Radke said nearby properties have had problems with drug paraphernalia and human feces.
Katie Gast (2031 South 86th Street) said neighbors are not opposed to helping people who are homeless but that safety concerns for children make the Mount Hope site unsuitable. "Concern for the safety of children, elderly residents and our neighbors should not be confused with fear of the poor," Gast said, urging the council to consider locations in commercial or mixed-use areas with better access to transit, employment and social services.
Other speakers echoed those points. Elizabeth Montgomery, a healthcare professional and parent of two Franklin Elementary students, said she had observed an individual under the influence on school property last year and is concerned about proximity to schools. Ivy Messinio said residents had been told the school principals were supportive of the proposal, a claim she disputed after speaking with Franklin's principal.
Speakers repeatedly asked the council to ensure any eventual shelter location offers easy access to services that support transitions to housing — such as employment resources, health care and morning programs — rather than siting a temporary shelter in a primarily residential block. The council did not take action on the matter during the meeting; the chair reminded the audience that the city cannot act on non-agendized items during public participation.
