Manitowoc seeing 'historic numbers' in homeless population as volunteers sought for latest homeless count. Plus, more news in weekly dose.
MANITOWOC - United Way Manitowoc County is seeking volunteers to assist in conducting the Point-in-Time Homelessness Count Jan. 25 and 26. Shifts include 11 p.m.-1 a.m. and 4-6 a.m.
The Point-in-Time count is an overnight street and known location count of people experiencing homelessness.
The counts are conducted twice annually, creating a snapshot of what homelessness looks like in a neighborhood, city or state.
Results help establish future homelessness reduction programs, funding and other supports, United Way said in a news release.
During the count, teams of volunteers are assigned to areas to look for anyone unsheltered and provide referrals to supportive services. Volunteers also provide kits with personal hygiene items and food/beverage gift cards.
Leaders at local agencies that serve the homeless are reporting a significant increase in need for services this year.
“We are seeing historic numbers on wait lists at all of our shelters, at times 15-plus people deep,” said Michael Etheridge, executive director of The Haven of Manitowoc County, the city's men’s homeless shelter at 1003 Marshall St.
A new warming shelter at First Presbyterian Church, 502 N. Eighth St. in downtown Manitowoc, provides some respite for individuals by providing overnight shelter January through March.
Those interested in volunteering for the Point-in-Time count in Manitowoc County can sign up at unitedwaymanitowoccounty.org and attend a volunteer training from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 23 at the United Way office. People with questions can call 920-682-8888.
United Way said businesses and individuals can also get involved by donating vouchers or gift cards to be distributed to homeless individuals.
Data collected through the PIT count are reported to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report that is provided to the U.S. Congress. Homeless information is also reported to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care.
Welcome to your weekly dose.
Read on for more news from throughout Manitowoc County in your weekly dose of community news.
▶ Health Department releases 2022 Community Health Assessment: Manitowoc County Health Department has released its 2022 Community Health Assessment.
The assessment “helps define the health of a community by exploring successes, gaps and barriers that exist in Manitowoc County,” the department said in a news release, adding it also helps identify priorities and leads to a subsequent Community Health Improvement Plan.
Top priorities identified by the 2022 assessment included mental health, substance use and physical activity/nutrition.
Here are the assessment's key findings:
Successes
82% of Manitowoc County adults received a cervical cancer screening compared to 78% statewide.
93% of Manitowoc County residents younger than 65 have health insurance.
The proportion of high school students who report smoking tobacco has declined from 11% in 2015 to 5% in 2021.
Areas for improvement
Manitowoc County has fewer mental health, primary care and dental care providers per capita than the state average.
20% of adults and 29% of middle/high school students reported having depression.
13% of women in Manitowoc County reported smoking during pregnancy compared to 8% statewide.
21% of Manitowoc County adults reported no leisure-time physical activity.
Manitowoc County’s ranking in overall health by County Health Rankings has declined and currently stands at 54 out of 72 Wisconsin counties. In 2019, Manitowoc County was ranked 43.
The full report can be found at https://manitowoccountywi.gov/departments/health-department/cha-chip.
▶ NAMI, Salvation Army partner for MLK food drive: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Manitowoc County and the Manitowoc Salvation Army are partnering on a Martin Luther King Day United to Serve food drive that runs Jan. 17-19 around the observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Jan. 17-19, non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Salvation Army, 402 N. Ninth St., Manitowoc.
Pickup of items is also available and people should email namimanty@gmail.com to make those arrangements.
▶ Woodland Dunes plans Candlelight Night for Feb. 4: Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve, 3000 Hawthorne Ave., Two Rivers, will hold a Candlelight Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4.
Participants will be able to stroll (or snowshoe, if there’s enough snow) along a candlelit trail at the preserve and also partake in hot drinks and live music indoors.
Depending on the weather, astronomy experts will also be on hand to teach about the winter sky constellations.
An outdoor bonfire will also give space for socializing and making smores.
Cost for members is $15 per family or $5 per individual. Non-members pay $20 per family or $8 per individual.
More details: http://www.woodlanddunes.org/candlelight-night/ or call 920-793-4007.
▶ Manitowoc to host inaugural Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival: Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary and Visit Manitowoc have announced they are partnering to host the inaugural Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival at Red Arrow Park Beach in Manitowoc July 14-16.
The Wisconsin Sand Sculpting Festival is the only one of its kind in the state. A three-day event, the festival kicks off July 14 with 10 competitive semi-pro sand sculptors beginning to construct their sculptures. An award ceremony will conclude the weekend on the afternoon of July 16.
Throughout the weekend, attendees will be able to watch and chat with competing sculptors in action, participate in hands-on amateur competitions, and watch sand sculpting demonstrations and speed sculpting shows.
In addition, there will be an entertainment tent featuring a variety of live performances, food trucks, cold drinks and vendor booths.
A news release said: “Sunrise Rotary and Visit Manitowoc are working closely with professional master sand sculptors and owners of The Sand Lovers, Bill and Marianne Knight, to make this event possible. The Sand Lovers have a long history of managing major sand sculpting events nationwide. Their events currently include the Blue Water Sand Fest in Port Huron, Michigan, Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival in Michigan City, Indiana, and American Sand Sculpting Championship in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.”
People seeking more details about sponsorships, volunteer opportunities or becoming a vendor can contact Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary’s Elsie Patterson at emepatterson@icloud.com.
▶ Open house on Manitowoc's Comprehensive Plan set: City of Manitowoc will hold a public open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 18 at The Venue at Union Square, 702 York St., Manitowoc, so the public can share input and feedback in the development of the Comprehensive Plan Update and Comprehensive Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is the long-term plan for the city’s growth and identifies strategies to enhance the overall quality of life in the community over the next 20 years.
The CORP sets a strategic plan for the maintenance and improvement of the community’s parks and recreation system for the next five years.
No preregistration is required. Contact the city’s Community Development Office at 920-686-6930 or go to www.manitowoc.org/public-open-house for more details.
▶ Two Rivers Main Street seeks artists for summer banners: Two Rivers Main Street, a non-profit downtown revitalization organization, is looking for artists interested in having their art displayed on Washington Street this summer.
The art will be printed on banners and displayed on light poles in downtown Two Rivers.
Artists young and old are encouraged to pick up a canvas and create their entry.
Interested artists may pick up a canvas at the Two Rivers Main Street Office, 1608 Washington St. Entry fee is $20 for adults or $10 for students.
Completed art must be returned to the Two Rivers Main Street office before March 15.
Guidelines are at tworiversmainstreet.com and people can call 920-794-1482 or email director@tworiversmainstreet.com for more details.
Our impact
The Herald Times Reporter — part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin — strives to make a difference in our community. Read our 2022 Community Impact Report and our 2021 Community Impact Report.
Get your dose — stay connected
Get your dose of local community news here each week. For updates throughout the week, come back to htrnews.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
News tips
Send tips to htrnews@htnrews.com. See our contact page.
Thanks for reading!
We appreciate your readership! Support our work by subscribing.
Last week's most-read stories
Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc homeless population at historic high; volunteers sought
