Milwaukee County park-and-ride; citations torn up, help for homeless
MILWAUKEE COUNTY - Milwaukee police say they are tearing up parking citations. Officers left those placards on vehicles early Friday, Dec. 1 at the Holt Avenue park-and-ride lot – which has become home for those who do not have homes.
Milwaukee County park-and-ride lots have become shelters. But with winter conditions quickly approaching, it is not sustainable.
"Our hope, as we head into the next few weeks as it gets really cold that individuals we’re working with will start to come inside," said Eric Collins-Dyke, Milwaukee Countyy Housing Services deputy administrator.
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The county does daily homeless outreach – including at the park-and-ride lots. Collins-Dyke said right now, about two dozen people live at those lots – the majority at the Holt Avenue lot. A dozen are looking at apartments right now, but that takes time.
"Folks we’re working with and showing apartments, they still reside there," Collins-Dyke said.
Overnight when winter parking restrictions went into effect, Milwaukee police posted placards and citations on vehicles in the lot. Friday afternoon, officials said they were voiding the citations because city ordinances do not cover the lots.
In a news release, Milwaukee police say they want to help find long-term solutions. A spokesperson wrote, "We do the best we can but sometimes in retrospect, we know we can do better."\
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The 2024 Milwaukee County budget allocates more than $5 million toward affordable housing and homeless prevention. The county will be using $3 million in state funds to renovate a south side apartment building – to provide transitional housing and care for at-risk people.
"While it may be taking some time, sometimes it takes a little longer depending on what the individual is dealing with, their past trauma, some present issues they may be facing – the end goal is always to have their own place to live," Collins-Dyke said.
Holt Avenue park-and-ride lot, Milwaukee
Warming rooms will be opening on Monday as well.
Milwaukee County hopes that will help triage people and their needs – and get them into housing sooner.
Reaction
Dan Sellers, Communications Manager - Southeast Region, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
"It has not been this group’s goal to just relocate these already displaced individuals, but rather to put people on the path of long-term, stable housing. This type of work has taken time but has also allowed the group to make meaningful progress. Through these efforts to date, many unhoused individuals have successfully found safe and stable living conditions. However, the work is not done. No evictions of remaining individuals took place last night nor previously, but winter weather is now here. Additional steps are being made to get the remaining unhoused individuals into permanent housing or warming shelters as early as next Monday, December 4.
"Annually, WisDOT and Milwaukee County restrict overnight parking at Park and Ride lots between December 1st and March 31st. During these winter months, plowing, snow removal and salting will be required to maintain service at the lots. The park and ride lots need to be cleared for this to be accomplished. This annual end-of-year restriction has been communicated to vehicle owners for several weeks now. Additional outreach teams including the Milwaukee County Mobile Crisis Team will continue to conduct outreach and assistance to support people through this change."
"Right to Shelter" resolution
In 2020, Milwaukee County passed a resolution declaring a "right to shelter" – providing shelter to people who are homeless or lack access to some place safe to live.
If you or someone you know doesn't have a place to live, they say to call 211. For more information on parking regulations, visit the city's website.