MADISON, Wis. — The City of Madison has approved a plan to create a new homeless encampment in an attempt to move those who have made a home out of Reindahl Park. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Reindahl Park encampment includes up to 70 people 

  • The City of Madison plans to spend $2 million to move them to a new location

  • Outreach workers said that location is "in the middle of nowhere" 

  • The new site can only house 30 and second site is in the works

The Common Council passed a resolution from Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Tuesday night to open a new encampment on Dairy Drive. That’s on the corner of Femrite Drive, across from a fire station. But it’s an industrial area, unlike Reindahl, which has tons of food, grocery stores and pharmacies within walking distance.

Kaci Tobin and Sydney DeBroux work for Tellurian, they do outreach at Reindahl. They were bringing sandwiches, toilet paper and fruit on Wednesday, the day after the resolution passed.

“I think [the plan] is terrible,” Tobin said. “I think the city sunk a lot of money into it without really doing the work of asking houseless people where they want it to go. I think it's really far away from resources. I think it's in the middle of nowhere.” 

Plus, Tobin said it further disconnects unsheltered people from the community. 

“I feel like when people can't see homelessness in their communities, there's this idea that it doesn't exist,” she said. “I think it's a terrible spot. I'm really upset about it, actually.” 

The city’s plan includes adding sewage and electricity at the Dairy Drive site. However, it can only hold about 30 people; the most recent count from advocates is near 70 who currently live in Reindahl Park. City officials said they’re working on a second location, but they haven’t released any information about it yet. 

The project will cost about $2 million using federal coronavirus relief money specifically flagged to help people experiencing homelessness. 

But Tobin and DeBroux said people at Reindahl have already created a community of their own. Leaving, especially to an isolated spot, would be difficult for them. 

“Just because houseless communities don't maybe look like your neighborhoods, doesn't mean that there are not […] people who know each other who rely on each other,” Tobin said. 

The Dairy Drive site is expected to be ready mid-October.