Vacant Waukesha school may serve as men's shelter

By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Waukesha - With the cold of winter fast approaching, those seeking to find a new emergency overflow shelter for homeless men hope a vacant school on Northview Road and Grandview Blvd. can be used.

Bernie Juno, executive director of Hebron House of Hospitality, said a lease-to-buy offer was submitted this week to Waukesha State Bank, owner of the former Northview School that most recently was the site of the West Suburban Christian Academy before it closed last summer. The bank has until Monday to respond.

Juno said the building, which is on a bus line, could serve as a shelter as soon as mid-December. She also has approached nonprofit agencies who often serve that population as potential renters who would share the space. She said the response from those agencies has been "quite good, actually."

"We might have more than we can actually fit into the building," Juno said.

Unlike some other sites previously considered, zoning is apparently not an issue with the old school. It is categorized as "institutional," which includes adult care services. City Planner Michael Hoeft said the building inspector, who interprets the zoning category, has already indicated verbally that an emergency shelter would probably fit the zoning.

A chain-link fence separates the property's eastern border from the backyards of several homes in a larger residential subdivision. Residences are also to the south, along Grandview Blvd. A city fire station is across the street and county-owned property, including the Huber Jail, is next to the fire station on Northview Road.

Ald. Joe Pieper, who represents the area, said he had not heard details about the plan.

"I will certainly reach out and work with Bernie Juno and city staff and neighbors to keep them up to speed on discussions," he said.

For the past two winters, St. Matthias Episcopal Church housed an emergency shelter in the church's lower level in downtown Waukesha, on the corner of East Ave. and Main St. Considered temporary the first year, it was allowed to operate a second year when a study group was unable to find a suitable replacement shelter.

However, the Fire Department said the shelter would need to make permanent improvements if it were to be used a third year, an option not seriously considered because of cost and neighborhood opposition.

Recession strains shelters

High unemployment has strained resources of social services like Hebron House, with more people in need of emergency shelter and filling existing shelters, including Hebron House and Salvation Army, beyond capacity. More than 30 men filled the overflow shelter most nights for the past two winters.

As the county seat and Waukesha County's largest city, Waukesha is a natural location for both shelters and services, Mayor Jeff Scrima said. Scrima met Wednesday with County Executive Dan Vrakas and others to discuss the issue.

"I think it comes down to treating others as we want to be treated ourselves," Scrima said. "We do have an obligation to do everything we can. I have a strong sense the county wants to work on that with us."

Discussing costs

While Scrima said he had concerns about the increased policing costs borne by the city, Vrakas suggested a cost-saving solution if the city would join the county's consolidated dispatch service. Scrima was noncommittal but said it was worth discussion.

If the Northview property deal goes through, Juno said she will probably seek federal grants through the county for work needed on the shelter.

The men's shelter would be located in the gymnasium, which has its own exits and whose access to the rest of the building can be limited, Juno said.