Storage Dignity is a service at the Micah Center, a daytime resource center of St. John’s Ministries
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
GREEN BAY — Imagine if you had to always carry your important documents with you — your birth certificate, Social Security card, other legal papers. That’s the reality for those experiencing homelessness in Green Bay.
Now, however, there is a solution to this problem.
Unveiled Sept. 12, Storing Dignity has been established as a secure storage space in the lower level of the Micah Center that will provide unsheltered individuals the opportunity to store and check in and out important documents.
The Micah Center, located at 612 Stuart St. in Green Bay, is a daytime resource center of St. John’s Ministries for adult men and women.
St. John’s also operates Wellspring, a daytime resource center just for women, and two emergency shelters, one for men and one for women, from Nov. 1 through April 30.
“In the Green Bay community, the number of people experiencing homelessness sadly is increasing year after year,” said Jesse Brunette, executive director of St. John’s Ministries.
“We just completed our busiest shelter season (on April 30) with a 19% increase of nights of shelter as compared to last season, which at the time was the busiest season. Those numbers keep going up, so St. John’s Ministries, as well as … our community partners, are stepping into that space and trying to create opportunities to shelter and serve those who need us.”
Brunette explained that people experiencing homelessness are sometimes hindered from seeking services at the daytime resource center because they carry their possessions.
“One of the things we have noticed over the years is a number of people are going to St. John Park and other parks in the community. They are staying in the parks,” he said. “They don’t want to leave their possessions at the park and travel to our facilities because their possessions could be thrown out or stolen. (Storing Dignity) is a wonderful opportunity.”
The project started after Paul VanHandel, a street outreach worker with Newcap, Inc., and chairperson of the HOT Team (Homeless Outreach Team) Committee with the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition, spoke at the 2024 Leadership Green Bay Human Services Day.
“The (HOT) team works specifically with those people who are unsheltered and homeless on the street,” he said. “We work with everybody, people in cars, in tents or just on the street.”
Leadership Green Bay is a program of the Greater Green Bay Chamber that brings together professionals to build local connections and work on “team” projects that benefit the community.
VanHandel spoke to Leadership Green Bay about the struggles of storing items. It was 2024 Leadership Green Bay’s Team 5 that took on the project.
Alexa Priddy, a member of Team 5, formerly worked for St. John’s Ministries, so “this opportunity had a place in her heart for the organization and those we serve who are experiencing homelessness,” said Brunette.
Priddy is now director of fund development at Encompass Early Education and Care, Inc., based in Green Bay.
Two staff members at Downtown Green Bay, Inc. — Jenny VandenLangenberg, director of first impressions, and Jen Metcalf, assistant director of Downtown Green Bay, Inc. — had previously researched storage programs and served as resources to Team 5.
VandenLangenberg said that they originally learned about a community storage program in Minneapolis at a 2023 downtown convention held there. They also spoke to a representative from Duluth, Minn., which replicated the program in that community.
Leadership Green Bay’s Team 5 fundraised for the Storing Dignity project and partnered with Bayland Buildings, Inc., and Home Depot on the construction. They also secured sponsorships for funding from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation and the BayCare Clinic Foundation.
A wall was built on the west side of the lower level of the Micah Center to create the Storing Dignity space. Bins on rows of shelving will be used for storage. The wall features a sliding indoor window for check-in and out.
“There are some things we are working out in regard to case management, some processes to ensure that items are stored as safely as possible due to their sensitive nature,” said Brunette. “There are a few more things we need to do to prepare the space. We will be discussing this with our current guests who have the need.”
Tony Schneider, director of resource development and community engagement at St. John’s Ministries, said that it’s now important to make sure the community is aware of Storing Dignity. Those interested in utilizing the service are encouraged to visit or contact the Micah Center, he said.
The storage opportunity is a solution to a common problem, he said.
“The amount of times that someone comes to us and their one barrier is a birth certificate, a Social Security card or ID, which they had at one point, but have since misplaced, is substantial,” he said. “Having a spot for them to keep those items breaks down that barrier to employment or housing. They can keep items safe here.”
Storing Dignity is not for items such as clothing or personal care products, said Brunette.
“During shelter season, we allow one tote for guests. They can put all their items in a tote,” he said. “This is for personal documents, certificates. We want to respect the safety of everyone’s items.”
The history of St. John’s Ministries dates back to 2005 when members of StreetLights Outreach met with Fr. Guy Blair, then the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Green Bay, who offered the gymnasium of the former St. John the Evangelist School for a temporary homeless shelter.
In November of 2007, the Diocese of Green Bay opened St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter at the St. John site. In April of 2008, St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter became its own corporation.
For information on St. John’s Ministries, visit St. John’s Ministries – Green Bay, WI (stjohnsgreenbay.org). To contact the Micah Center, call (920) 617-8700.