Restrictive city law often leaves them nowhere to live, many are becoming homeless. Raymond Rosa sits in the back of his van, which he outfitted with a makeshift electricity system. Photo by Jabril Faraj. A City of Milwaukee ordinance passed by the Common Council in July is making it nearly impossible for former sex offenders to find housing. The ordinance restricts these ex-offenders from living within 2, feet of any school, licensed day care center, park, recreation trail or playground.
As of Jan. The list includes private residences that are currently occupied and multiple-unit buildings that have refused to rent to sex offenders. One of the people affected by the ordinance is Raymond Rosa , 49, who was released on parole in June and is homeless. Rosa even installed an air conditioner during the hot summer months. Oglesby said she has seen other homeless people with nothing more than a bag and a pillow.
Rosa said he petitioned DOC to let him serve out his time on supervision, which goes through September , in prison. Unfortunately, most of these laws treat them all as identical. In fact, nationwide, only 5. More than nine out of 10 had not previously been convicted of a sex crime; most victims are known to the perpetrator; and treatment can have a significant effect on whether or not a sex offender will re-offend. In Wisconsin, sex offenders deemed to be at high risk of reoffending are confined to sex offender treatment facilities under a law.
All 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County have some type of residency ordinance that restricts where sex offenders can live. He noted that an unstable environment can make it harder to access treatment or keep a job; that instability can also estrange a person from family or social support systems.
On Monday, Sept. According to a complaint Rosa filed with the City of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission , he was taken into custody after a Hunger Task Force employee notified police of a suspicious vehicle. Rosa had an outstanding parole violation, stemming from a problem with the GPS tracking band he wears on his ankle; he said his parole officer had forgotten to remove the bogus violation from the computer system.
