The Milwaukee Homeless Shelter serves eviction notices to the nearby camp

MILWAUKEE – A homeless shelter in Milwaukee recently sent out an evacuation notice to homeless people living in an encampment, but the shelter is now back on some of the conditions.

Dozens of tents are located on 13th Street near Juneau Avenue.

A 59-year-old man and new father prides himself on cleanliness and keeping peace and order at this encampment near 13th Street. It’s in a garden across the street from the Milwaukee Guest House, a homeless shelter that owns it.

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“It’s peaceful, we call it the suburbs,” he said. “The murders and all, those people don’t even live here.”

But his safe haven will soon be gone.

Last week, a 30-day notice was posted on the doors of the Milwaukee Inn and placed on every tent across the street. But now, the nonprofit said it believes the deal may have been too aggressive.

“We saw a market explosion in the tent population when the RNC came and a security zone was removed,” said Guest House of Milwaukee CEO Stephen Bauer.

Since June, he said the camp has grown to more than 50 tents, with a community of 65 people. The eviction notice said people must move out permanently by 5pm on October 12 or the police would be called for trespassing.

The reason: violence.

“Fights broke out,” Bauer said. “We have seen an increase in domestic violence abuse. And drug use. And he actually had an incident where people from the camp entered our shelter and continued to fight with a client of ours.”

Bauer said the original plan was also to eliminate the portable toilets and begin immediate renovations in the garden before retiring. He said he still wants people to leave, but noted that no one will be evicted because of renovations to the garden.

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“We have withdrawn our evacuation,” he said. “We’re not evacuating anyone, it’s a little different with a camp. We will not forcibly remove anyone, but we will do everything we can to bring them to shelter or safe housing.”

But still too much for a pregnant Katie Hansen, who said she had nowhere to go.

“There was too much drama,” she said. “I’m trying not to cry.”

Bauer said the shelter will not stop helping those at the camp. They provide sandwiches and water every day.

Milwaukee Guest House also works to connect people with shelter and housing resources.