MILWAUKEE — In June a homeless encampment formed across the street from Guest House, a nonprofit organization in Milwaukee that provides shelter for 89 men.
Now, officials are giving those living there a 30-day notice to vacate the area.
Edward Watkins has been living on the streets for the past nine months. He spends his nights sleeping on the steps of Milwaukee North Hispanic SDA Church.
“Twisting and turning, I can’t really sleep like that,” said Watkins.
Where Watkins sleeps is just around the corner from a 60-person encampment on Guest House property.
He said recently, notices were put on all the tents.
“We are all worried," said Watkins. "We are all worried that we get a letter posted up talking about October 12th, we have to leave."
Steve Bauer, the CEO of Guest House, said the encampment has continued to grow since it popped up in June.
“We have had as many as 50 tents with 60-65 folks in the encampment at one time,” said Bauer.
The encampment is located on Guest House property next to the community gardens.
Bauer said Guest House is a men’s shelter; the encampment is a mixture of both men and women. When people started camping on the property, he said he allowed it because he would never turn away someone in need.
“We have porta potties out here for them, we have been providing food and water as well as other services that we have inside of our shelter,” said Bauer.
There’s now an order for those living in the encampment to vacate the property by Oct. 12.
Bauer said Guest House has plans to renovate the property the encampment is currently on. However, he said due to the encampment, the renovation has been pushed back.
“We also at the same time have a planned renovation for this space that was planned eight, nine months ago that we have been postponing until the end of the season, but we have to get it done before Nov. 11,” said Bauer.
For the past few weeks, Bauer has been working with organizations from Milwaukee County to find residents housing.
Felishia Mccall is a housing navigator with Milwaukee County.
When she was told that she needed to get everyone in the encampment into housing by Oct. 12, she said she was skeptical.
“At first when they told us Oct. 12 I was like, hmmm, I don’t know, but we have only been out here for maybe two weeks and we have maybe 10 people we are about to move [into housing],” said Mccall.
Mccall said a lack of affordable housing options in the county and having the proper documentation are two major barriers that hold people back from getting into housing.
“We have clients that have had everything stolen from them and they feel down and out on their luck and there is just no way out of the hole, but here we are and we are going to make it happen,” said Mccall.
Watkins said he worries about his friends living in the encampment.
“We have all different kinds of people out here that came together and made a pact, so for them to try to take it away, that will do something mentally,” said Watkins.
Bauer said his intention is not to traumatize anyone.
“We won’t be forcibly removing anyone,” said Bauer. “If there are still folks in the garden after the 12th, we will work around them.”