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$1 Million Dollar Grant to Be Received Over Five Years
Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Family Promise of Waukesha County, Inc.
Executive Director: Joe Nettesheim
139 E North St, Waukesha, WI 53188
262-968-2321
WAUKESHA,WI - Family Promise of Waukesha County has been awarded a $1 Million grant from the Wisconsin Balance of State to develop a Shelter Diversion program for Waukesha County. These funds were secured by the Wisconsin Balance of State through the Bezo’s Day 1 Fund Family Promise of Waukesha County is a subrecipient of the grant and will receive the funding over a five year period starting June 1, 2024. The purpose of the grant is to develop a program that will:
Work toward zero unsheltered families within Waukesha County
Reduce the number of families needing shelter
Reduce the length of time from point of entry to exiting to permanent housing.
Together the Wisconsin Balance of State and Family Promise of Waukesha County will devise strategies to reach these goals. Executive Director Joe Nettesheim stated that this grant, “provides a resource to insure that no family in Waukesha County should ever have to sleep in a tent or their car ever again. We are excited about being able to work with the Balance of State and our partners in Waukesha County to better serve families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness.”
Another goal is during these five years to develop a program that can be used in other locations. Some possible strategies to accomplish these goals are:
Provide security deposits and first month rent
Offer temporary hotel stay
Develop a tenant and landlord mediation process to avoid eviction or resolve past evictions.
Incentivize landlords to accept tenants with a past evictions
Cover moving/storage costs
Provide legal representation for tenants during eviction
Family Promise of Waukesha County was selected by the Waukesha County Continuum of Care, a collaboration of agencies striving to end homelessness, to apply on their behalf. Twenty letters of recommendation from these agencies, government officials, businesses, civic groups and congregations were provided in support of our efforts to secure these funds.
This is an excellent opportunity for Family Promise of Waukesha County, the county and most importantly for families experiencing homelessness.
To learn more about Shelter Diversion: https://endhomelessness.org/resource/diversionexplainer/
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The mission of Family Promise of Waukesha County is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response. We do so by providing financial assistance to prevent homelessness and a shelter program for families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness. For more information about Family Promise of Waukesha County, visit www.familypromisewaukeshawi.org.