An area in Milwaukee that was previously a homeless encampment has been transformed into a community green space. | File Photo
An area in Milwaukee that was previously a homeless encampment has been transformed into a community green space. | File Photo
An area in Milwaukee that was previously a homeless encampment has been transformed into a community green space and all the individuals who used to live there have been housed.
"At its height, there were 93 individuals that were unsheltered living in this downtown area, which was a huge tragedy. And then two years later, we're here today, and all of those individuals are no longer homeless," said James Mathy, Milwaukee County Housing Division.
Underneath the Marquette Interchange in Milwaukee, there were 93 homeless individuals living in tents two years ago. Thanks to an initiative by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Milwaukee County, the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and several nonprofits, all of those individuals have been housed, and the area has been transformed into a community green space with paths for pedestrians and bikers. It opened on Sept. 28.
The space is now also part of a green infrastructure project, which will capture and redirect stormwater. The paths also provide transportation benefits for commuters. Public Works Commissioner Jeff Polenske said that in the future, the space could be used for recreational purposes.
In January of 2021, the Point in Time count found 817 homeless people in MKE – down from 970 in 2020, which is a decrease of almost 16%.
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