The people helping homeless along Wisconsin’s lakeshore
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WFRV) – Local 5 News was the only Wisconsin broadcaster to cover the recent Night Without Shelter event to raise awareness about homelessness along Wisconsin's lakeshore.
Here are some of the people on the front lines of the issue, in their own words.
"Sheboygan really understands that the correlation between homelessness and lack of housing is the need for more housing," said Mayor Ryan Sorenson. "Sheboygan has to build 5,200 new housing units in the next five years to meet the current demand."
Lyric Glynn is the supportive housing program director with Lakeshore Community Action Program, or CAP. "The barriers to getting housing range from bad credit to having an eviction on their record. When you're talking about a perfect tenant, and landlords have these specific requirements, not everybody has those. Everybody's afraid to discuss homelessness. Hopefully, we'll get people comfortable with the topic."
Itzchel Garza is a supportive outreach counselor with the Lakeshore Community Action Program of CAP. Her service areas are Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee, and Door counties. "Homelessness looks different in each county. There is homelessness in campers with no access to electricity or water. Storage areas. They're hidden away from the tourists."
Abby Ries is the advocacy chair for the Sheboygan County Housing Coalition. She's been with the group since early 2017. "I really want to build empathy so we can make a movement for people who do need housing and that people understand these issues do exist in our community."
Liz Nack Kroll is the senior director of programs and community with the Sheboygan County Food Bank, which also runs a community cafe. "I really believe in helping people by meeting them where they're at. Some people are just living their lives and don't want better. But is it better for them? Maybe they have anxiety. I want us to have a healthy community. We're all made differently, but we still need to help each other."
