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October 20, 2024
The Family Promise Five is a weekly newsletter 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:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Family Promise of Waukesha County was honored to have Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez visit and participate in a conversation about family homelessness. We are grateful for her support for and commitment to families who are housing insecure. Joe Nettesheim was a presenter at the Family Promise National Conference the first week of October.
How will you celebrate Family Promise Week?
1. FAMILY PROMISE WEEK
Celebrate the impact of Family Promise from October 21-25
Mission
Family Promise Week is a week-long campaign to raise awareness of the impact that is being made across the country by all Family Promise affiliates. In 2023 Family Promise affiliates served over 63,000 households. Founded in 1988 as the Interfaith Hospitality Network by Karen Olson, the mission of this organization has always been to provide a community based response to those who are experiencing homelessness.
Our affiliate in Waukesha County served our first families in 2014, as Family Promise of Western Waukesha County. Now 10 years later we have served over 450 families by providing shelter, preventing family homelessness and diverting families from the shelter system.
This week we hope you will participate in one of the events geared to celebrate our impact, advocate for families experiencing homelessness or providing support to those expereincing homelessness. This is what our week holds:
October 22 Project Homeless Connect, sponsored by United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties
October 23 Family Promise Forum: A Discussion on the Criminalization of Homelessness
More details are provided on each event below.
POLL OF THE WEEK
HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE FP WEEK?
0%Attend trivia night
0%Participate in the FP Forum
0%Volunteer at Project Homeless Connect
0%Sign up to volunteer
You can vote for more than one answer.
2. 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: OCT 25
Registration for our 10th Anniversary Trivia Night closes on October 21.
Community
"I never thought this would work."
This is a statement from one of the the individuals involved in starting Family Promise of Waukesha County. Those involved in starting the Waukesha County affiliate had to fundraise, recruit congregations willing to host families experiencing homelessness and find a Day Center. There were many in the community who did not want or feel that such an organization was necessary. It really is an accomplishment to have succeeded in serving families experiencing homelessness for 10 years.
This is why we hope you will celebrate with us on Friday, October 25. Join us as we honor all those who created, supported and have given this agency the ability to serve over 450 families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Here are 10 reasons to participate:
Connect with fun and service oriented people
Great food served by Michelle Miller, a former guest who now has her own catering company as well as free beer and wine.
Honor those who founded the organization and built a foundation that has lasted a generation.
Hear of our aspirations for the future.
Reminisce about the accomplishments over 10 years.
Fun trivia games led by MC Doug Jarecki
Music of Chad Griesel and Greg Flattery
Witness the presentation of our first founders award
Raffle prizes
Support Family Promise of Waukesha County
3. FP FORUM: CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS
Join us for a community conversation about the criminalization of homelessness
Advocacy
You are invited to participate in a discussion about the criminalization of homelessness. This panel will be held on Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30pm at the Waukesha Public Library.
This past spring Wisconsin State Assembly Bill 669 was passed in the Assembly, but it did not pass the senate. This bill would have allowed municipalities to arrest or fine those experiencing homelessness for sleeping in a public place. It would also withhold funds to social service agencies whose level of success does not meet state benchmarks. In addition the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling in June in favor of Grants Pass, a community that enacted an ordinance to criminalize homelessness.
For this reason we would like to gather community members to discuss these issues. Our panel will include government officials, law enforcement and service providers. Panelists are:
Officer Jason Fink, City of Waukesha Police Department
Mike Hallquist, City of Brookfield Common Council
Alicia Halvensleben, City of Waukesha Common Council
Brad Schimel, Circuit Court Judge and former District Attorney for Waukesha County
Erika Olson, Balance of State Housing Systems Specialist
The event will be facilitated by Joe Nettesheim. Additional panelists may be added.
RSVP is not required but will be helpful to plan for the event.
4.LUNCH AND LEARN: SECTION 8 VOUCHERS
Come and learn about the value of Section 8 Housing Vouchers
Advocacy
You are invite to join Sophia and Family Promise of Waukesha County for lunch and conversation on October 29. This lunch and learn will provide an overview of housing vouchers and how they benefit our community especially landlords. The presentation will be made by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council. Review the flyer for more information or call Sophia for questions. 414-758-1148
5. FP NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Reflections on the national conference by FP Waukesha staff
Mission
The first week of October Joe, Courtney, Maria and Justin attended the Family Promise national conference in Indianapolis. The name of the conference was Reignite. It was first national conference since before the pandemic. All affiliates have had to evolve and adopt their services since Covid-19. Many have moved to static or scattered site shelter programs. The organization has also seen a growth in programs designed to prevent family homelessness. Many affiliates have seen an enormous growth in families served. Some are serving more than 2000 families a year. Overall it was an excellent opportunity to connect with other affiliates and learn from experts in programs, fund development, partner and volunteer engagement, advocacy for families, and human resources to name some of the topics.
When asked about what was learned and ideas for our affiliate Courtney shared these thoughts:
"I learned so much from the National Family Promise Conference, it is hard to pick out one specific item on which to focus. One takeaway is that it would be helpful to have a Guest Family Advisory Council. A group of individuals with lived experience could help our organization better understand the needs of the families we are serving. It would also give the individuals on the council a chance to make a difference and support others who are currently experiencing homelessness. In turn this will also give the families currently experiencing homelessness someone to talk to about their struggles. These individuals could also help Family Promise enhance our policies and procedures, plan fun events, and provide resources we may not already have! "
We are glad to have a week to take a step back, consider where we are and dream about the future.
CALENDAR
Oct 21-25 Family Promise Week
Oct 21 Housing Action Coalition Board of Directors Meeting
Oct 21 Board of Trustees - Day Center
Oct 22 Project Homeless Connect
Oct 23 Family Promise Forum: Discuss on the Criminalization of homelessness
Oct 23 Weekly Meal hosted by Church of the Resurrection
Oct 28 Staff Meeting
Oct 29 Lunch and Learn
Oct 30 Weekly Meal hosted by Green Bay Packaging
Nov 9 Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Session
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