Some believe the Manitowoc Common Council has unintentionally “criminalized homelessness.”
Those were comments made by NAMI Manitowoc County Board President Donna Firman during last night’s meeting during the public comment period.
Almost a month ago, the common council approved an update to an ordinance that reduces the number of days temporary housing like tents or RVs are allowed to be around from 30 days to 10 days.
Firman says to her this isn’t a homeless problem, but a lack of affordable housing problem because many homeless people are mentally ill.
“Studies suggest that up to 75% have a mental health condition,” she explained. “Conditions that go untreated due to lack of providers and other access to care issues. I look at this measure by the council as an attack not just on the unhoused but also on the mentally ill.”
Firman says the way to fix the issue is to look at how other cities handle the problem by decriminalizing housing, strengthening crisis response systems, reducing criminal justice involvement, and collaborating with others in their community.
Kate Markwardt, an Operations Specialist with Wisconsin Balance of State says, criminalizing homelessness is completely ineffective.
“I think the decision was short-sided,” she says. “In order to impact homelessness, it’s important to talk to the people, the experts that are in this community who have years and years of experience working with the unhoused and unsheltered before such a terrible decision is made that impacts so many people in this community.”
Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels says affordable housing remains one of the city’s top priorities.
“We’re more than willing to work with you,” he responded. “But we would also love the chance to explain what the council talked about for quite some time about this issue and the rationale behind it. Housing is the number one issue and we’re having discussions on all different types.”
The council took no action after the comments.
