GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Freedom House finally cut the ribbon on their new shelter on Wednesday.
The facility to serve homeless families in the Green Bay area was completed in January of 2020. Despite the pandemic, it has already served 564 people.
“We’re just happy that we finally get to celebrate this beautiful new facility within the community and to be able to bring people inside and give tours and show the impact that we’re having on homeless families,” said President Jessica Diederich. “Homelessness is a problem that’s not going away anytime soon. We’re finding that there are more families in need of shelter in this area, and having a larger facility is helping us to accommodate that population and the rising numbers.”
A small group of local donors came together to fund 98% of the project. Diederich says that’s a big deal, as they’re 100-percent reliant on donations for their operating budget and the supplies provided to residents.
“Having a building with no mortgage is a really big blessing for us, so we know we’re really fortunate,” Diederich said. “We used to have a 12-room shelter with shared bathrooms. Now, we have a 16-room shelter and each of those has their own private bathroom.”
But a place to stay isn’t the only thing provided at Freedom House.
“Our ultimate goal is really to help people find stable housing but also while they’re here give them the opportunity to learn new skills and help them become stable,” Diederich told WTAQ News.
WTAQ visited Freedom House this past December:
