MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) confirmed with Spectrum News 1 that it set the deadline of Thursday May 16, for people living at Milwaukee area park and rides to vacate the lots.

WisDOT said the deadline stands, but it’s not enforcing it yet to give people time who are working with Milwaukee County housing services to find a permanent place to live.

Jeffrey Parker and his dog, Otto, have been living at the Holt Avenue Park and Ride for the past few weeks.

Jeffrey Parker and his dog Otto. They are both currently living at a Milwaukee County Park & Ride in Parker's minivan. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

Parker said it’s an experience he never imagined he’d face. 

“It’s mostly terrible because it’s almost impossible to sleep,” said Parker.

Parker said he was evicted from his apartment and after hotels got too expensive, he ended up at the park and ride.

He said he needs to find a better option because the park and ride isn’t a good place to live, but feels he has no choice.

“This is not set up for this kind of situation; there’s no sanitary facilities. Very poor garbage — they pick up and we pick up as much as we can, but it’s not set up for a place to live, ” said Parker.

Shelly Sarasin is the co-director of Street Angels, a mobile outreach organization that provides basic resources and hope to people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. 

Shelly Sarasin is the co-director of Street Angels, a mobile outreach organization that provides basic resources and hope to people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

Sarasin said that right now there is a record number of people who don’t have a place to live and said inflation is a major reason for the uptick.

“There are a lot of people who have had to choose between making a rent payment or making a car payment. A car gives people the resources to have shelter and to go to work every day. There are many people who are living in their cars who have full time jobs who just cannot afford to find a place to live,” said Sarasin.

Parker said he believes he’ll find a place to live soon, but worries about others he’s met at the lot. He said he believes there is a need for options for people to get the help they need before the worst happens.

“There should be a real setup or help to actually catch them before they go all the way down before they are all the way down and you’ve got to drag them up,” said Parker.