FP FIVE: A BASKETBALL AND A MOBILE HOME
- Joe Nettesheim
- Jun 12
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 13
JUNE 12, 2026
The Family Promise Five (FP Five) is a blog whose purpose is to update, inform, and advocate for families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
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.
In this edition, you will find these stories:
AND CHECK OUT:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I feel like I have hope now, I have that second chance at life and I’m able to try again . . .”
-former client
AWhat do you think are the most important contributions a thriving community can provide to service organizations?
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Thank you Oakwood Church for volunteering to plant flowers, trim hedges, weed, and beautify the yard of our Day Center. It looks 1000% better.
01. A BASKETBALL AND A MOBILE HOME
FPWC has begun a Capital Campaign to finance a 10 unit apartment building
What do a basketball and a mobile home have in common?
At first glance, a basketball and a mobile home do not have anything in common. Yet over the past two weeks, both have come to symbolize something important: the impact that caring for one another can have on families experiencing homelessness.
There are times when working alongside families facing homelessness can feel overwhelming. The barriers to stable housing are often complex. Families may be navigating job loss, past evictions, criminal records, limited education, health concerns, broken relationships or other challenges that make it difficult to secure housing and earn a livable wage. Sometimes there is no quick solution.
Yet even in those most difficult moments, small acts of kindness remind families that they are not forgotten, judged, or cast aside. They remind them that they are seen.
Recently, a mother caring for six teenagers came to our Day Center for a case management appointment. She had received support through our Family Homelessness Prevention Program. As her Family Advocate gathered household cleaning supplies and hygiene items for the family, they noticed a newly donated basketball. Without knowing whether the family enjoyed sports, the advocate felt compelled to add it to the bags of supplies.
When the basketball was offered to the mother, her face immediately brightened.
"Oh my," she said. "My boys were at the park yesterday and were the only ones without a ball. They didn't have anyone to borrow one from, so they came home."
What seemed like a simple gift, became something much more. It provided an opportunity for her children to participate, belong, and simply be kids. It was a hope-building moment for both the family and the Family Advocate.
That same week, another family was facing a very different challenge. After losing their housing due to job loss, they had been living in a hotel for several months. Working closely with their Family Advocate, they received referrals for mental health and addiction treatment services. During that time, the father secured employment, and the family was approved to purchase a mobile home.
The timing was critical. Their hotel funds were nearly exhausted. Through our Shelter Diversion Program, Family Promise of Waukesha County was able to provide the down payment needed to secure the home and prevent another housing crisis.
For this family, homeownership represents far more than a place to live. It provides stability, security, and the opportunity to build equity and a brighter future.
These stories may seem to sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. One involved a basketball. The other involved a home.
Yet both reflect the heart of Family Promise of Waukesha County's mission: to walk alongside families as they navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives, to treat every family with dignity and respect, and to help them secure safe and stable housing.
Sometimes changing a family's future begins with something as significant as a home. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as a basketball.
Both matter.
02. SHELTER DIVERSION STARTS YEAR 3
What are the success and challenges of shelter diversion in the first two years.
In April 2024 Famiyl Promise of Waukesha County received a $1 Million dollar grant to be received over the five years. The grant originated from the Bezos Day 1 Fund. it was provided to the Wisconsin Balance of State who then solicited RFPs. Family Promise of Waukesha County is a subrecipient of the grant and works collaboratively with the WIBOSCOC.
The purpose of the grant is the implement a pilot program called Shelter Diversion. The purpose of diversion is to keep families experiencing homelessness out of the shelter system. Focused on families with minor children if we are able to assist families to self-resolve (with support) emergency shelter will be reserved for the most vulnerable.
Here are five observations of the past two years. (There are more but we will start with these. )
Shelter Diversion quickly became our largest program. In the first two years 163 families were enrolled into Shelter Diversion. Two years ago these families would have been referred elsewhere. Now we are able to provide some level of case management even if we do not find a solution. Families do not need to walk this path alone.
Staff Matters, a lot! Another way to say this could be that money is not always the answer. Good case management that helps families see options that are not always clear in the midst of a crisis is invaluable. It hasn't always been money that has helped families. Sometimes this became abundantly clear when there was staff turnover. This is a big shout out to our entire team!
Managing Expectations is a challenge. When a family who is experiencing homelessness calls us , their expectation can be that we are just going to place them in shelter. Instead we ask questions such as where did you stay last night? What resources might you have to help you find a place this evening? Shelter is not our default it is a fall back when all else fails. Unfortunately some families walk away.
Shelter Diversion is the ER. It has taken awhile for us to understand this. (Thank you Noah Wylie) The goal of diversion is not permanent housing. It it is to make sure a child is not sleeping in their car or on the street. To use the ER analogy it involves triage and focusing on stabilizing. Once a patient is stabilized they are either discharged or checked into the hospital. Frankly this goes against every social workers instinct which is to stay with a family until they have a permanent solution.
A Community With a Diversion first mindset is essential. The next step in our five year program is to try to develop a diversion first mindset throughtout teh community. Identifying ever family experiencing homelessness cannot only be done by Family Promise of Waukesha County. When a family is experiencing homelessness and whoever they approach shoudl be thinking how do we help them self-resolve before entering shelter. This will help reserve shelter for those who are most vulnerable and avoid the trauma of entering shelter for for families.
The next year will prove to be important as continue to improve our practice and grow the program county wide.
03 FAIRWAYS FORE HOME
Golf Outing to be held July 20 at Oconomowoc Golf Club
Fairways Fore Home, our annual golf outing, will be held on July 20 at the Oconomowoc Golf Club is at capacity for golfers. Thank you to everyone who will be joining us for a wonderful day in support of families experiencing homelessness in Waukesha County.
If you would like to be on a waitlist please contact Emily Willert, Outreach and Fund Development Coordinator.
As a significant way to raise funds to support families experiencing homelessness we still need your support! You are invited to support the outing and families experiencing homelessness in the following ways:
The post golf event begins at 4pm and includes butler passed hors d'oeuvres, live music, cash bar, dinner, program, silent, live auction and raffle.
There are a number of sponsorship levels that still remain.
Provide an auction or raffle item
Use you imagination and creativity to provide a silent, live auction or raffle item. Experiences and services are always popular. Some ideas are:
provide an experience
tickets to a theatre or museum
tickets or a luxury box to a sporting event
Memorabilia
painting or piece of art work
massage or spa day
tools
gift certificates
services such as a painter, plumber, electrician
trips
golf outings
plane or helicopter ride
heat lamp or generator
books or music albums
sports equipment.
Donate a bottle of your favorite adult festive beverage for an on course activity.
Proceeds from the event will help Family Promise of Waukesha County provide critical programming, respond to the growing needs of families and offer stable housing for families in our community. Your generosity helps make possible:
Rent Assistance
Security Deposits
Utilities and Wifi
Case Management
Car Repairs
Bus Passes
Shelter Program Leases
Please contact Emily Willert, Outreach and Fund Development Coordinator for any questions.
04. CUP OF JOE |AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY
3 things a thriving non profit needs from the community
Recently Joe was part of a panel discussion. At the end of the event the attendees asked the panelists questions. The last question was, "As a leader of a nonprofit, what does an engaged community provide? And you cannot say money."
What would you say?
Here are his thoughts.
POLL OF THE WEEK
What do you think are the most important contributions a thriving community can provide to service organizations?
interest and willingness to learn about the issue
accountability
generosity
openness to clients
05.FURNITURE MOVERS
Volunteers needed to help set up new apartments for families
We’re looking for volunteers to partner with our Fresh Start Furnishing Program.
This program helps families we work with get the essential furniture they need to turn an empty space into a home. We rely on volunteers to help make that happen by assisting with moving furniture into and out of apartments, helping families get set up in their new or current units, and picking up furniture donations from the community.
This is hands-on work that directly supports families during important transitions into permanent housing. If you are interested in being part of the moving crew, please reach out to tasha@familypromisewaukeshawi.org.
FIVE PLUS
OFFICE HOURS
Offices closed
June 18 Juneteenth Day
Please keep office hours in mind when planning to connect with staff.
Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Phone support only)
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
UPCOMING
June 15 FP Board of Trustees Meeting
June 16 COC Leadership Meeting
June 16 Golf Outing Committee Planning
June 17 Department Meetings
June 17 Organizational Structure Committee
June 22 Mid- America Executive Directors Meeting
July 20 Golf Outing @Oconomowoc Golf Club
July 29-30 A Home for Everyone Conference @ Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee
Keynote speaker is pulitzer prize winner Brian Goldstone
August 13 Impact Night
October 19-22 Tomorrow's Promise FP National Conference
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