More transitional housing will be coming to Manitowoc.
The Manitowoc Common Council last night unanimously approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the group known as The Neighborhood, which wants to build transitional apartments in the old McKinley Elementary School building that they purchased.
Following the meeting, members of The Neighborhood, including Pastor Matt Sauer and Amy Sonnemann, said that it’s incredible and excellent that the council approved the permit.
Sauer says the next step is to start looking at architectural renderings.
“Then when we’re actually done and are given the great details on what needs to happen, and of course, those have to go through proper planning and approval permits,” Sauer explained. “And then it’s looking at contractors, and if everything goes well, then ideally, we’ll see some action by the first of the year.”
Sonnemann re-explained the need for transitional housing in Manitowoc after a study came out showing the lack of available and affordable temporary housing needed to help those trying to return to a more normal life.
“So this will go a great distance in serving our community and getting those people into a temporary rental,” Sonnemann tells Seehafer News.
Sauer was also thankful to the community for their support so far and says more still needs to be done as they need to raise about $8 million dollars to create the expected 30 transitional apartments that will go into the former McKinley school.
The Neighborhood is the group made up of First Presbyterian Church, which runs the Manitowoc Warming Shelter, along with groups including Hope House and the Haven Men’s Homeless Shelter which continue to work together to help those that they serve.
People who are served could be a part of the transitional housing program as well.
The original Conditional Use Permit would have included a warming shelter, but that’s now going to be an entirely separate project.
