Convicted felons released into the Shawano community will continue to be placed at the New Era House until a new facility can be found.
The state Department of Corrections’ contract with the New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St., officially expired Thursday after a one-month extension.
The DOC earlier this year contracted with ATTIC Correctional Services for an eight-bed facility at 227 E. Richmond St. in Shawano, which would replace the New Era House. The contract called for ATTIC to provide transitional housing services for convicted felons that are under the DOC’s supervision, including recently released sex offenders.
The Shawano Plan Commission last month refused to allow a special exception to the zoning ordinance for the new facility.
The decision left things in limbo for not only recently released offenders, but also for New Era House owner and operator Ruth Paterick, who said Thursday she doesn’t know what the DOC’s plans are.
“I don’t know what they’re doing or what I’m supposed to do,” she said.
Paterick said she will continue to house the DOC residents in the meantime.
“I’m not going to switch off their monitors and turn them loose into the community,” she said.
Paterick has previously said she was willing to continue her contract with the DOC, but was not given an opportunity to bid when it came up for renewal.
Joy Staab, director of public affairs for the DOC, responded Thursday to questions from the Leader with an e-mail statement: “ATTIC was awarded the bid and is continuing to search for an approved site. DOC will use alternate approved housing options until a new site is secured.”
Paterick said she has had little contact with the DOC since the Plan Commission decision and the extension of her contract through July.
She was informed on Thursday that another DOC resident, a convicted sex offender, would be placed there Aug. 12. She was also told two others were pending.
All three placements depend on approval from the city’s Sexual Predator Ordinance Committee.
Paterick also said she is also unsure how the DOC will handle payment for residents under their supervision now that there is no contract in place.
“I’m waiting to hear,” she said.
The DOC has “pay as you go” options that can be used for living arrangements that are not contracted.
Paterick also said some of the New Era House residents have obtained jobs since their release and are able to pay for themselves.
Still, the payment issue raises questions for Paterick about how long she can continue to operate.
“Every day it crosses my mind,” she said.