OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Homelessness has been a growing issue throughout Northeast Wisconsin, and that includes in Oshkosh.
Even after the opening of a new shelter last summer, many are still without a place to spend the night.
“I used to sleep right over there — the same spot,” unhoused Oshkosh resident Major Pines said. “Slept there for, I wanna say three weeks.”
For months, unhoused residents like Pines have slept outside near the downtown Orrin King building.
“When we got involved we realized it was much more than the three or four people we were told of,” ESTHER Lead Organizer Katie Olson said. “Maybe we can find a different, maybe type of screening barrier on the grate itself, but where people can still access it for the heat source.”
Some say they’ve recently been asked to move.
“Police were just here, they were saying that they were gonna ticket people for living here,” Olson said.
In response, ESTHER held a press conference Thursday outlining their concerns with the overall treatment of the homeless population.
“Let’s get them resources. If there’s illegal activity happening — why is that happening? If drugs are being used, let’s get some AODA counseling and get these people housed,” Olson said.
The group is asking city and county leadership for answers and a path forward. FOX 11 reached out to city manager Mark Rohloff. In response, a city spokesperson directed us to Kate Mann, the Oshkosh Police Department’s Public Information Officer.
Mann said OPD responded to an excessive noise complaint outside the Orrin King building early Thursday morning. It was determined an individual was intentionally trying to disrupt the homeless population. According to Mann, that person, who is not homeless, was the only person cited. Mann says no one else has been given a citation or been told to leave.
“More assistance from the community as a whole as everybody comes more together, less drugs, more productivity, even finding jobs for people or low income housing. if it’s available,” Pines said. “Anything to straighten somebody’s path — that’s what I would want to see out of this.”
We also reached out Winnebago County Executive Jon Doemel. In a phone call, a representative from his office said the county remains committed to finding solutions for the homeless population. He added no threats of citation have come from the county.
ESTHER leadership says they have initiated conversations with the city and county.
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