Neighbors concerned over safety at Holt Avenue park-and-ride as dozens set up temporary housing

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A park-and-ride station in the city of Milwaukee is causing concern for area residents after dozens of unhoused people have set up temporary housing on the lot.

Wednesday, Sept. 27, District 14 Milwaukee County Supervisor Caroline Gomez-Toms held a heated public meeting for community members to gather and discuss the growing number of people living at an area park-and-ride.

"Don’t interrupt me sir, you've spoken enough, stop interrupting me," said one resident at the community meeting to another.

County Supervisor Toms said the county is working to find other avenues to assist those who are unhoused.

"[We] are making sure that housing has enough funding to do this work and has the resources and support to do this work well is going to be important," said Gomez-Toms.

The park-and-ride near College and Holt Avenue -- which is owned by the state and managed by the county -- has grown with trailers, tents, and cars of people now calling the lot home.

"Why can't we just have a safe place and have and understanding," said Rachel Wagner, an unhoused woman in Milwaukee.

Wagner has been living on the lot for close to two months, after she fell on hard times, she said the lot provides her a sense of security.

"It's not just on the street, and there's other people too, we all kind of look out for each other," said Wagner.

Residents close to the encampment said while the lot may be a safe haven for some, this cannot be a permanent solution.

"There is no doubt about compassion here, right so we get it we are compassionate we understand that there needs to be pathways for those people to move on from where they are," said a community member.