Green Bay Catholic Diocese Opens New Shelter For Homeless

Micah Center Is Located Downtown Nearby Other Shelter

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The exam room in the new Micah Center. Photo: Patty Murray/WPR News.

The Green Bay Catholic Diocese is opening a new daytime shelter for the city’s homeless.

The Micah Center is downtown on Green Bay’s east side, close to St. John the Evangelist’s church, which has hosted an overnight winter shelter for several years. It’s also close to other resources that director Alexia Wood said are important to both shelters’ guests, as she refers to them: “To the job center and to the library and other services that our guests are looking to tap into each day,” she said.

Wood added that the new shelter will also be a boon for nearby downtown businesses.

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“Perhaps if there’s somebody coming in, seeking temporary shelter or looking to warm up, and before perhaps they had to throw their hands up, said Wood. Now they have a place nearby where they can encourage individuals to (go).”

The Micah Center will have nine computers, a visiting nurse practitioner who can give physical exams, and drug and alcohol counseling. The homeless can also get a locker, play some pool or just hang out.

Deacon Tim Reilly said people can decide for themselves what to take advantage of.

“And for everybody it’s a little bit different,” he said. “The requirement is you’re going to be engaged, the requirement is you’re not going to be disruptive to other people. But beyond that, it’s to try to be here for them so that when they’re ready to make that step we’re here, able to help them make it.”

The building is already zoned commercial. The Diocese formed a nonprofit corporation to buy it.

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