WAUKESHA, Wis. — The city of Waukesha has taken steps to clear out a homeless encampment located near Frame Park along the Fox River after giving residents two weeks to leave. 

City workers cleared out the area on Wednesday. Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said the city’s decision stemmed from weeks of complaints. 

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Waukesha has taken steps to clear out a homeless encampment located near Frame Park along the Fox River after giving residents two weeks to leave

  • Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said the city’s decision stemmed from weeks of complaints

  • Reilly added that nonprofit organizations were informed to provide assistance for those displaced by the move

  • Alderman Eric Payne, who represents District 2, where the encampment was located, said the issue has been a longstanding challenge

“Everyone was told they had to leave as of yesterday,” said Mayor Reilly. “They were asked to be out of there before tomorrow morning. My understanding is there was two people still there as of yesterday morning. They knew they were supposed to leave, and they gathered their stuff and left.”  

Throughout the day on Wednesday, city workers continued clearing out the site. Mayor Reilly said that nonprofit organizations were informed to provide assistance for those displaced by the move. 

“I mean, I wish we didn’t have homeless, but you can’t have encampments up against other people who live right in the neighborhood, so I can’t say I’m happy about it,” said Mayor Reilly. “I think we took care of the situation as best we could. We don’t have the resources to provide homes to anyone who wants them and so these people will be—their situation is not good. They have to figure out what they are going to do, but private property isn’t the place for setting up encampments. Unfortunately, no place in the city is a place for an encampment.”

Alderman Eric Payne, who represents District 2, where the encampment was located, said the issue has been a longstanding challenge. It’s a challenge, he said, isn’t going anywhere. 

“It’s something that there is no happy ending to because you are displacing these people for one thing,” said Alderman Payne. “They have no place to go but then again, they can’t be trespassing on other people’s prosperities and causing problems that way.”

Mayor Reilly urged those seeking help to connect with local nonprofits that specialize in homeless, mental health and addiction services. 

“The non-for-profits that work with the homeless, that work with mental health, that work with addictions, are the ones that step up and provide the type of support that taxpayer dollars are not able to,” he said. 

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