The concerns brought by some citizens to the City Council and County Board last week went beyond issues such as potholes and property taxes.

Several people, who identified themselves as homeless, told both bodies about the injuries they have suffered living on the streets, seeking warmth in the winter and the need for further assistance.

And the local organization that helped those voices get to the meetings is hoping to provide that assistance.

Members of Kenosha New Hope Mission have spent several years providing food, clothes and services to assist homeless people and others in need throughout Kenosha. The program’s work includes bringing Angel Food Ministries, which offers groceries at a discounted price, to Kenosha.

The group is now looking to provide additional residences for Kenosha’s homeless population.

August Grulich, chairman and founder, said he wanted others to hear the stories of people who have had to live on Kenosha’s streets.

“People have to speak on their behalf,” Grulich said. “The people who talked (at the meetings) are normal citizens. They were your neighbors.

“I feel this was meant to get a point across that there is a problem and this community is large enough and good enough to do more.”

Grulich said there are programs that assist the homeless, but they’re not enough.

“There is more help needed in the community, and there is a need for another organization to fill the gaps that are not being filled,” Grulich said.

More help needed

The Shalom Center is raising money for a new homeless shelter off of Sheridan Road and 80th Street. But Executive Director Dan Melyon agreed more help is needed.

“The Shalom Center serves a specific segment of the population and our service is time-limited,” Melyon said. “There is generally room for more assistance for the homeless people in our community.”

Melyon said the Shalom Center typically is forced to turn away between 175 to 225 families a year from its emergency shelter due to space issues. About 500 individuals were turned away from the Interfaith Network Nightly Network Shelter (INNS) program last year because they did not meet program requirements or space was full. The latter number is expected to be higher this year.

In the short term, New Hope plans to acquire foreclosed properties to help several families. But the organization has longer-range plans to fashion a facility that could house up to 80 individuals on a 24-hour basis.

Grulich said he intends that no one would be turned away from that facility.

Dee Wait, board president for Kenosha New Hope Mission, said the agency would help people with job training and computer education. But residents also would be expected to contribute their time and effort to their surroundings.

“It’s not a free ride,” Wait said. “People not able to secure a job will be working in the shelter.”

Wait said responsibilities could include shoveling snow, washing windows and cleaning the facility.

“This is not just a flophouse; they will be doing something,” Grulich said.

People using these facilities also will need to have spent 30 days in the INNS program before turning to the New Hope facility. Grulich said he would be willing to work with other organizations through this project.

Potential locations are still being considered for New Hope’s housing efforts. The renovation and remodeling needed for the large facility could cost a significant amount of money. The organization is looking for assistance from the community. All donations that go toward Kenosha New Hope Mission go directly to client assistance and services.

People interested in the organization can contact Grulich at 308-1951 or agrulich@wi.rr.com or Wait at 657-5987.

City, county support

Grulich said they have received some words of support from city and county representatives.

“We need to hear people, not step over them on the sidewalk,” said county Supervisor Dayvin Hallmon, who helped bring a group of about 15 homeless people to Tuesday’s County Board meeting.

Hallmon said his district has many empty houses, which could provide housing for those currently staying on the streets and some programs could be worked out to assist the homeless population.

“Some of this stuff doesn’t take dollars,” Hallmon said. “It just takes a lot of thought, a lot of time and a lot of care.”

Alderman Anthony Kennedy has worked with Grulich on previous projects and said the issue of homelessness deserves a longer look.

“I applaud the religious and non-profit community for doing what they need to do to respond to this,” Kennedy said. “The question is what is the magnitude of the problem? For our response, we need more data to know what the problem is and how we can handle it. Those are discussions we should be having.”

Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman said he did not expect the city to get directly involved in addressing homeless concerns, outside of the current support for the Shalom Center’s food pantry.

“We will continue to support the Shalom Center in their endeavors, but the city will not be creating our own programs,” Bosman said. “I think our budget is such that we are going to have a hard time maintaining the current programs and services that are already in place without getting involved in other programs.”

While the organization’s plans may seem daunting, Wait and Grulich said they are more than willing to see them through.

“We’re not afraid to take it on,” Wait said.