From Milwaukee-
A nighttime shelter for homeless men can again operate at a downtown Waukesha church hall this winter, the city Plan Commission decided Wednesday.
A majority in the standing-room only crowd of about 100 literally stood in support of the 5-1 decision, rising to their feet as their spokesmen told the commission that Waukesha was showing compassion by its action.
"No one thinks this is a permanent solution, but we're in an emergency situation," said the Rev. David Simmons, rector of St. Matthias Episcopal Church, which will again house the shelter. "The jobless and homeless statistics are staggering."
St. Matthias, at N. Main St. and East Ave., requested the conditional use permit along with Hebron House of Hospitality, which operates three other longer-term shelters.
An overnight shelter opened at the church last winter because existing shelters were routinely crowded. A particularly long spell of frigid weather and the growing impact of the recession - unabated still - added to the need. Salvation Army in Waukesha is the only other drop-in shelter for men operated in suburban Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties.
Last year, the Plan Commission had indicated that the permit was for only one year. Commissioner Curt Otto, who lives above his art studio business in downtown Waukesha, voted against a new permit because, he said, the city and county had not addressed the homeless on a permanent basis.
Some in the business community and residents have been critical of the shelter, seeing it as counterproductive to the city's longstanding downtown redevelopment efforts.
In a tepid statement of approval this month, the Business Improvement District Board voted 5-4 to support the shelter but urged agencies to offer users safe and beneficial destinations during daytime hours when the shelter is closed.
More here-
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/60876432.html
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