While it may not be as obvious as it is in big cities like Chicago and New York City, homelessness continues to rise across the state, including northeastern Wisconsin. According to Wisconsin Watch, the state saw its decade-long downward trend in homelessness reverse in 2021, and its population grew from 4,861 in 2023 to more than 5,000 in 2024. That growth primarily occurred in rural areas, from approximately 2,900 in 2023 to 3,201 in 2004. That number could be even higher even with dedicated volunteers scouring the area and looking for people in the area during point-in-time counts like what occurred in Door, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc counties in January. That has led to rural counties only having 23 percent of the state’s supportive housing units despite having 60 percent of the state’s homeless population. The closest homeless shelters in Door and Kewaunee counties are outside the area in Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Brown counties. That’s where Ryan Mueller discovered House of Hope in Green Bay, which offers one of the only shelters in the state for homeless youth. Mueller says it hurt to see a big city problem close to home, but it also inspired him to help do something about it.

Mueller’s experience with House of Hope inspired this weekend’s sale at his business, Uncle Tom’s Candy Store in Ellison Bay. Donating the profits from last year’s event helped raise more than $3,000 for House of Hope. The special promotion runs through Saturday.