GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Green Bay non-profit has received a generous grant to help fund a program for homeless people.
It’s meant to give those experiencing homelessness, a safe place to sleep.
Finding somewhere to sleep without worry can be a difficult task for those without a home.
For some, sleeping in a car is their only option.
That’s where Wise Women Gathering Place’s Safe Place Parking program comes in.
“We have a place where they can come and be safe for the night and not have to worry about being shooed off a residential or a business parking lot. They can have a full night sleep,” Wise Women Gathering Place Executive Director Beverly Scow said.
Scow said the organization provides an open parking lot.
People can park their cars and sleep safely.
However, money is always an issue.
Now, thanks to a $10,000 matching gift from local couple Bob and Carrie Arnold, Scow said they’re halfway to their $60,000 fundraising goal to keep the program going.
“There’s not a lot of grants to support a program like this so we rely on community to help,” Scow said.
Safe Place Parking has 46 spots available each night, year ’round.
Besides parking, there are also Porta Potties and electrical outlets available for use.
Last year alone, the program served nearly 400 people.
Scow said the program started during the pandemic, but was discontinued for a short time.
“It caused a lot of distress when we couldn’t be the place for people to come and so we want to continue that sustainability and stability, peace of mind,” Scow said.
The Safe Place Parking program also works to connect people to other resources for support including meals, laundry and housing.
It costs about $12,500 each month to keep the program running.
The group hopes steps like this help create a stronger, safer community for all.
Wise Women Gathering Place is hosting a Safe Place Parking open house on Sept. 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for community members, businesses, donors and supporters to learn more.
