College Avenue park and ride shuts down as local leaders promote Homelessness Awareness Week

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – October 28 marks the start of Homelessness Awareness Week, an initiative to address the number of people in Milwaukee County who struggle to find housing.

It also marks the indefinite closure of the College Avenue Northeast park and ride.

For some, home looked like a car or tent inside the College Avenue Northeast park and ride. Now, that’s no longer an option for many people who live there.

“It’s disgusting. I was put in a predicament and now they’re telling me I gotta be out of here. I’m just doing what I can,” said one park-and-ride resident who did not want to share his name.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced the indefinite closure of the park and rides because of safety concerns. Law enforcement officers say they responded to more than 200 calls over the summer ranging from assaults to gun shots being fired.

“Park and ride has been the biggest challenge I think any of us have faced. The more people that we house, the more people that are going there,” said James Mathy, the Milwaukee County Housing Administrator.

Law enforcement officers blocked the entrance of the park and ride, and no one was allowed inside unless they were moving property.

“Our goal is to never close encampments, just move individuals to other places. The park and ride is just a unique situation,” said Mathy.

At a Homelessness Awareness event, local government officials said warming shelters will be opening soon and are working to find housing for those who have been homeless for longer periods of time.

“Ultimately that’s what I want to see is those folks who are impacted and were formally staying in those park and ride to get housing,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

At the park and ride, people say there’s just not enough resources.

“They tell you to go to Vliet Street. I have been to both places. Well, they only take the first 15 people on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Well, there’s over 100 people in line. What are you supposed to do?” said the resident.

WisDOT says everyone who lives at the Northeast park and ride has to be out by midnight otherwise they will be cited for trespassing. Residents at the Southwest College Ave Park and Ride have until next Monday.