FP FIVE: Fathers and Homelessness

Tasha Berillo
Jun 15
8 min read

June 15, 2025

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.

Happy Father's Day to all dad's and those

who mentor, protect and have guided us throughout our lives.

Family Promise of Waukesha County offices will be closed

Thursday, June 19 to honor Juneteenth Day.

In this edition, you will find these stories:

WHY OUR LANGUAGE MATTERS
FATHERS AND HOMELESSNESS
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH IS FOR ALL OF US
OH, THE PLACES WE WILL GO

POLL OF THE WEEK

My experience of Juneteenth is . . .

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Every father should remember one day his [children] will follow his example, not his advice.

-Charles Kettering

PHOTOS

(L-R) 1.]Thank you to volunteers from Oakwood Church for cleaning the Oconomowoc Apartment Shelter and preparing it for the next family. 2.]Grateful to being able to meet with the Waukesha Kiwanis and share information about Family Promise of Waukesha County. 3.]Tasha and Julie were at the very first Waukesha Pride Fest to share information about our services and volunteer opportunities.

01.WHY OUR LANGUAGE MATTERS

Voices of Family Promise, " Why we say 'experiencing homelessness,'" Family Promise National

Mission

Voices of Family Promise is a collection of stories, reflections, and expertise from various members of the Family Promise network. This initiative works to prioritize amplifying the voices and perspectives of families they serve. The reflection below highlights the importance of the language we use when talking about families experiencing homelessness.

At Family Promise, we intentionally use the phrase “experiencing homelessness” to describe families who have lost a home. This phrasing recognizes homelessness is a situation, not a definition or an identity. It humanizes a family’s experience, reduces stigma, and encourages solutions that address the root causes and unique needs of individuals in crisis, especially children.

The term “experiencing homelessness” is increasingly preferred over alternatives like “homeless,” “unhoused,” or “housing insecure.” By emphasizing the experience of homelessness, we can shift the narrative to acknowledge that losing a home is a situation people move through – not a permanent identity.

1. It humanizes the Issue.

It reminds us that homelessness is a challenge a family is navigating, not an identity they carry. This subtle shift evokes greater empathy and encourages more compassionate responses from the public and policymakers.

2. It shapes public perception.

The language we use influences how society views and responds to issues. By framing homelessness as an experience, we emphasize that it’s often not a result of personal failure but a reflection of systemic failures – policies and societal structures such as poverty, the lack of affordable housing, or housing discrimination that don’t support all people equally.

3.It drives better policy.

When homelessness is seen as a temporary experience, it motivates policies that prioritize immediate and impactful solutions, such as emergency shelters, housing vouchers, and transitional housing programs. The language also highlights the importance of prevention through initiatives like affordable housing, mental health services, and family support systems.

Shifting the language around homelessness is more than semantics – it’s a step toward empathy, action, and meaningful change. We believe individuals, especially those who have experienced homelessness, should use the language that feels most authentic to them. Our aim is to broaden the view of homelessness as a temporary experience, opening the door to solutions that empower families and help them rebuild their lives.

Why we say 'experiencing homelessness'

02. FATHERS AND HOMELESSNESS

Single dad finds permanent housing for his family.

Mission /Shelter Diversion

The majority of families who are experiencing homelessness are single moms. Often it means that dads who are experiencing homelessness are overlooked and resources are focused on mom's and their children. Many men who are father's do not have full time custody of their children so they may end up in a men's shelter that does not admit children. On father's day we want to draw attention to the needs of men who are experiencing homelessness. Below is a video of men who are dad's and experiencing homelessness sharing their story and a story of a dad recently supported through our shelter diversion program.

Through our Shelter Diversion Program, we met a single father with two young children who was doing everything he could to provide for his family. He was working a full-time job at a fast food restaurant, but without a stable place to live, he and his children were staying wherever they could. Sometimes they stayed with friends and occasionally they even slept outside. With few transportation options, poor credit, background challenges, and no long-term support system, the road ahead felt uncertain.

In an effort to create some stability, the father temporarily stayed in a hotel, but the cost quickly became unsustainable with his current income. That’s when Family Promise of Waukesha County stepped in.

Our team worked with him to identify housing solutions with low barriers, and he was initially placed in a rooming home. Unfortunately, a bug infestation made the space unsafe, and we quickly pivoted to find something better. Eventually, he connected with a private landlord offering a two-bedroom unit—an ideal space for him and his children to begin again.

With support from the Bezos grant, Family Promise was able to cover the family's security deposit and first month's rent, enabling them to move in and start fresh. St. Vincent De Paul further assisted by furnishing their new apartment. Not only that, but the father found a new job with higher pay, making it possible for him to maintain his new home and provide more stability for his children.

Today, this family is safely and stably housed—proof that early intervention and compassionate support can prevent homelessness and open the door to lasting stability.

03. WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Volunteer

Clean Apartment Shelter Units

We are in need of two groups, of 2-4 people, to help clean and prepare Apartment Shelter Units for new shelter guests.

If you are interested in being placed on an email list for future apartment shelter cleaning opportunities, please email tasha@familypromisewaukeshawi.org.

Silent Auction Items

Raise your hand to provide a silent or live auction item, basket or raffle prize! Your generosity will ensure that the Family Promise of Waukesha Golf Outing is a grand success and has the greatest ability to provide support to families experiencing homelessness.

If you would prefer to sign up to provide a basket you can use this link to provide a basket for the silent auction.

Donation Wish List

We are in need of the following items to support our clients in our core programs: Prevention, Diversion, and Shelter. Items may be dropped off between the hours of 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at our Day Center at: 139 E North St. Waukesha, WI 53187.

Please email tasha@familypromisewaukeshawi.org for more information or questions.

Facility Outdoor Upkeep

Volunteers needed to help mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and weed the gardens at Family Promise Day Center.

If you are interesed please email tasha@familypromisewaukeshawi.org.

POLL OF THE WEEK

My experience of Juneteenth Day . . .

0%Have celebrated it regularly.
0%Have only recently been familiar with the celebration.
0%Never been taught what it is about.
0%Wasn't a celebration that I felt was for me.

04. CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH IS FOR ALL OF US

Jasmine Kreimer, "Why We Should All Celebrate Juneteenth," The Progressive Magazine

The end of slavery is a day that every American should celebrate. Removing this scourge of injustice was a day that we more fully lived out our belief that expressed in the declaration of Independence that every one is created equal. At Family Promise of Waukesha County we draw attention to Juneteenth because we know that racism has played a significant role in many being able to secure safe, stable and permanent housing. The following provides an overview of why Juenteenth is important for everyone in our nation.

"Juneteenth is a day when generations of Black Americans have come together to celebrate freedom from chattel slavery. It’s a day that, until recently, was not widely acknowledged outside of some Black communities." In 2021, Joe Biden signed into law a "bill that made Juneteenth a federal holiday," however, "too many Americans are still unfamiliar with the day or its significance."

"Roughly seven in ten Americans believe that it’s important to teach the history of racism in our country, including the history of their own racial groups and others. Juneteenth provides a powerful opportunity to learn about our shared past in a way that celebrates progress while recognizing ongoing challenges."

Many individuals never learned about Juneteenth in school, but "this significant event should not be hidden in history." Since Juneteenth is now "nationally recognized, we have a responsibility to learn how to talk about and celebrate this holiday more broadly."

"July 4 celebrates our independence as a nation, and Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Americans, these two holidays can represent a twin celebration of freedom that truly embodies the value that Americans hold highest: freedom for all. "

"Black American history, after all, is U.S. history" and thus it is "our duty to provide Americans with the resources to learn this history."

To read Jazmin Kreimer's full article "Why Should We All Celebrate Juneteenth" please click below.

Why We Should All Celebrate Juneteenth

05. OH, THE PLACES WE WILL GO

Program

Oconomowoc Apartment Shelter Walk-through

The Oconomowoc Apartment Shelter first opened its door to a family on January 15, 2025. Since then, the Oconomowoc Shelter has served 2 families and is now preparing for new guests.

In partnership with the Oconomowoc Area School District, this collaboration accepts referrals from the district to support families in need. Together, we provide comprehensive, wraparound services designed to help families stabilize and work toward securing permanent housing.

Family Promise of Waukesha County has four core programs that work to address the root causes of family homelessness in a holistic manner. We are here to help those experiencing homelessness or at risk by providing prevention services before families reach crisis, shelter and case management when they become homeless, and stabilization programs when they have secured housing to ensure they remain independent.

Prevention

Through our prevention program we can provide assistance with rent, mortgage, utility, and car repair assistance to families facing eviction and homelessness. To be eligible for the

program families must have a minor child under the age of 18 and live in Waukesha County.

Rent Assistance: Can help up to $4500 over 3 months of rental arrears
Car Repair: Assistance up to $750
Utilities: WE Energies, Water (no phone, internet)

Shelter Diversion

Diversion helps families at the door find & maintain other non-shelter accommodations until permanent housing can be secured quickly. Families can not have a lease in their name and must have a minor child under the age of 18.

i. Can provide financial assistance for: double up fees, security deposit/first

months rent, rental arrears etc.

Shelter

Nonemergency housing for families experiencing homelessness. Each household participates in case management secure permanent housing as soon as possible. Families must have a minor child under the age of 18. There are 6 total apartments: 5 Waukesha apartments, 1 Oconomowoc Apartment. Families can stay 30 days with a max of 90 days.

Stabilization

After going through a core program, families are eligible to receive case management and one-on-one mentoring for up to a year.

FIVE PLUS

Point In Time Count

Volunteers are needed to help with the Point In Time(PIT) Count which will occur the night of July 23rd. During this evening , service providers and volunteers go out into their communities to survey those who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. We hope you will join us on Wednesday July 23 starting at 10pm and ending about 2 am.