GREEN BAY — The Safe Haven Hope Center, a low‑barrier shelter on South Jefferson Street, gave its first six‑month update to the Green Bay City Council on Tuesday. Executive Director Cathi Oreto described the period as “really good,” noting that the shelter has already helped several residents transition to stable housing and employment.
Progress for residents
Since opening under its conditional‑use permit on May 19, the shelter has housed 22 individuals. Three people have “graduated” from the program, with one now living in long‑term housing. At the time of the update, 16 residents remained at the facility, and the center expects to admit three more to reach its approved capacity of 19.
Oreto highlighted that up to nine of the 19 allowed residents have held jobs at some point during their stay. “They worked their butts off and they drank when they got home, but they worked,” she said, adding that several employers have offered long‑term positions to former residents because of their strong work ethic.
Funding and future plans
Safe Haven Hope Center continues to rely on private donations, which currently cover staff salaries. The organization is actively pursuing grant funding, though many grant programs require a longer operational history before awarding money. Oreto expressed optimism that additional funding will become available as the shelter demonstrates sustained results.
Police activity and community safety
City Council members were briefed on police activity linked to the shelter’s address. Fox 11 confirmed that 43 police calls have been recorded since the shelter opened. Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis reassured councilors that the department has not experienced “a whole lot of issues” related to the shelter.
“There’s been a few arrests for bail jumping, mostly related to someone who was drinking in violation of a probation restriction. We’ve only had one probable‑cause arrest for a low‑level disorderly conduct incident outside the property,” Chief Davis explained.
Sixteen of the calls were initiated by police for routine matters such as probation and parole home visits, or were unrelated incidents like traffic collisions that happened to be logged at the shelter’s address. Oreto noted that she has personally handled many of the remaining calls, often arranging temporary removal of individuals from the property so they can return the next day.
Looking ahead
Oreto emphasized that while the shelter is not perfect and “we are still working out kinks every day,” the overall trajectory is positive. The center plans to continue its focus on employment assistance, housing placement, and community partnerships to expand its impact.
The City Council will consider the shelter’s conditional‑use permit renewal at its next meeting, with Oreto expected to provide further updates on resident outcomes and funding progress.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
