Green Bay council keeps shelter’s doors open

GREEN BAY – A new homeless shelter operating in a former Newcap Inc. facility since January has received the Green Bay Common Council’s approval for a conditional-use permit that will allow it to keep its doors open and people off the street.

“They were outside, sleeping at the pavilion and in the bushes and wherever they could find a place to stay,” recalled Cathi Oreto, who launched Safe Haven Hope Center in January at 315 S. Jefferson St. and is serving as its executive director and director of housing. A four-person board of directors is governing the organization, which Oreto said has applied for nonprofit charitable status.

The new homeless shelter opened out of immediate need, Oreto said. This was before Newcap Inc., a nonprofit that had provided housing assistance and other services in northeast Wisconsin, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Newcap closed in March, amid allegations of questionable finances. It reported a $2.3 million deficit in 2024, despite generating $14.7 million in public support and $15.4 million in total revenue, due to expenses of $17.7 million. Its former executive director received $261,000 in total 2024 compensation, according to its financial documents. Newcap’s public support during the past five years ranged from a high of $18.4 million in 2023 to a low of $3.2 million in 2021.

The property at 315 S. Jefferson St. is listed on Newcap’s bankruptcy filing but without a value assigned to it.

Sarah Hanson, an area resident who spoke at the council meeting, said the shelter is ideally located near bus lines and in an area where its prospective residents are currently sleeping in parks, bushes and doorways.

“The real question is whether they remain unsupervised and unsupported or come inside to a small staffed program with accountability and rules,” she said. Hanson described the Safe Haven program as a proven model designed to increase housing stability, reduce ER stays, police contact and jail time. “I think we all want fewer people sleeping outside, fewer 911 calls,” she said.

Oreto said Safe Haven Hope Center has scraped together enough funding to operate a small shelter and is in the process of seeking larger grants. It has applied for nonprofit status, she said. It is providing shelter to four women and five men and has room for 20, she said. Some residents were asked to leave other shelters with more rules and regulations, she said, in explaining why the shelter is needed.

“Their rules are set in stone. They can expel someone for disrespecting staff,” Oreto said about other shelters. “Sometimes I might say words at home; my husband doesn’t expel. He doesn’t do that, and neither should we. There have been times when residents have had words; the only way for people to correct those is through working it out.”

Safe Haven Hope Center doesn’t allow drinking or drugs, Oreto said. “If they’re found drinking, they will be asked to leave,” she said.

Oreto said the residents are motivated to be there and to improve their lives. A recovery coach on staff assists residents in setting goals and working toward them, she said. “Is everyone going to stay sober; I don’t think so,” she said, but every resident has made progress in some way. “Not everybody is a criminal. Not everyone is a bad person. Sometimes they just need a bit of help.”

Green Bay resident Dawn Radford said her relatives “ran moonshine” in Green Bay, contributing to the alcohol scene. “Some people look at these people and see problems. I see immediate descendants of people my family invited in and served drinks to. I can’t see walking away from these people; not in good conscience,” Radford said.

Dist. 1 Alder Jennifer Grant recalled the Safe Haven shelter opened without obtaining proper city permits, and she expressed concern about it following the rules. “I do believe a lot of these shelters have rules, not just for getting people back on their feet, but for the residents and staff themselves. We all want to see success,” she said.

Grant asked Oreto how the shelter manages issues. “I’m there 12 to 14 hours a day. Sometimes I go home to sleep. I’m there Saturday and Sunday,” she said. “Gratefully I have staff willing to come in at night. If any incidents arise, I’m to be notified immediately, after 911.”

The council granted approval for the conditional-use permit despite hearing about empty beds at St. John’s Ministry’s men’s and women’s shelters. St. John’s provided beds and meals to 141 people in 2025, Executive Director Jesse Burnette said, but it has plenty of openings. Since April 30, it has sheltered about 20 women per night at a designated women’s shelter, he said.

While some have criticized St. John’s shelters for having too many rules and kicking out residents who use profanity, Burnette said, “Who wants to be sheltered by an organization that allows profanity, vulgarity and sexual comments? So we have to enforce the rules.”

Several people who spoke before the council described themselves as transgender and said other shelters haven’t been welcoming. Others described themselves as recovered addicts. “If you can keep it going, it will help a lot of us that are felons and are experiencing homelessness,” said one who spoke.

A resident who said he doesn’t have any family left said Safe Haven welcomed him with open arms. “They accepted me as part of their family, and I really appreciate that.”

Dist. 8 Alder Jim Ridderbush said Safe Haven Hope Center opened during “the most vulnerable time in our city, when it was so cold that they decided to do what they did. Yes, they didn’t get the permits; we have to forgive and forget. We have to look out for the best interests of our citizens.”

Dist. 6 Alder Joey Prestley said he was inspired by Safe Haven and their passion. “There is a real fire behind this. I’m glad this body has the opportunity to build on that fire.”

After the hour-and-20-minute discussion about Safe Haven Hope Center that dominated the May 19 council meeting, the alders included a six-month review in approving the permit and a stipulation the police department may confiscate any illegal drugs found on the premises. Grant raised concerns about its impact on the neighborhood and said she would prefer a 90-day review, but this suggestion wasn’t advanced.