MILWAUKEE -- There is no question that Milwaukee has a homeless issue .
As the weather gets warmer, you might think shelters would be less full, but you would be wrong.
As moratoriums on late payments for rent or power run out, next month begins the busiest season of the year.
At least 500 people call Impact 211 each day, asking where to turn to next.
"Our callers are like the rest of us - they have complicated lives," said John Hyatt, Impact CEO.
Trained community resource specialists are answering calls 24 hours a day. Anyone who needs help in southeast Wisconsin can simply dial 211.
"We have a database of more than 25,000 different services that we can connect people to," said Hyatt adding they get at least 100 calls a day that go like this: "Some people say 'I've been living in my car for three days and I have two kids."
Emergency shelters like The Cathedral Center downtown are an important part of the system. On Tuesday, the shelter for women and their children had just one bed left open.
"We're seeing people who have been dealing with poverty for generations and the culture," said Donna Rongholt-Migan, Cathedral Center's executive director.
They help these women overcome generational poverty by not only providing food and shelter, but also connecting them with housing and job resources.
Their goal is to get these women back on their feet in about 30 days.
The hope is for anyone in southeast Wisconsin to know they are not alone.
"All of that stuff your utilities have been cut off, what's my recourse what can i do and so we can help you sort through and sift through all of that," said Hyatt with Impact 211.
The Cathedral Center is in need of air mattresses and new pillows for families who are moving into their new apartments.
They are also in need of portfolios and flash drives as they start their new job ventures. You can reach them by clicking here.
