FP FIVE: GIVING DAY 2025

Joe Nettesheim
Apr 18
7 min read

Updated: Apr 25

April 18, 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.

Offices of Family Promise of Waukesha County will be closed on Friday,g April 18

In this edition, you will find these stories:

GIVING DAY TUESDAY-APRIL 22
A CAR IS NOT A HOME
APARTMENT SHELTER WISH LIST
THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US
THANK YOU

POLL OF THE WEEK

Would you participate in a book club that focuses on books related to housing and homelessness?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Thank you to St. Joseph Big Bend for providing easter baskets to distribute to families

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

[Family Promise] was our lifeline. - Former Guest

01. BE A HAND WILLING TO HELP

Giving Day is April 22.

Fund Development

Help families secure housing on April 22.

Be a Hand Willing to Help vulnerable families on Family Promise Giving Day this coming Tuesday, April 22. Your financial support will prevent families from losing their homes, provide shelter to those experiencing homelessness and support families to secure stable housing .

Our goal is to raise $125K in one day. We are grateful to the sponsors of the Community Challenge Fund who have already committed $64,800 or 57% of our goal. They are:

2 families who are anonymous,
American Transmission Company (ATC),
Mike and Amanda Hallquist,
GE Match,
Waterstone Mortgage and
Evangelical and Reformed UCC.

One family shared that they are proud supporters of Family Promise because, "we believe that every child deserves a stable and loving home to grow up in. Family Promise provides essential resources to families in need, working tirelessly to ensure that the children in our community have a comfortable and secure place to call their own.reason provided for their support."

Here are five ways your gift will impact families in need.

Each year we help about a third of those who request help. Our ability to serve is directly proportional to the resources available. You can lift a family out of homelessness with a generous gift toward this goal.

PROVIDE A GIFT ONLINE

Did you know that charitable giving is good for your physical and mental health? Read why here.

All the ways to give on Giving Day 2025:

GIVING DAY CELEBRATION

Join us for a Giving Day celebration at Maddy's Lounge and Music Bar , 200 Madison St, Waukesha, WI 53188 from 4:30-7:30pm. 50% of their proceeds during that time will benefit Family Promise of Waukesha County. Bring your friends and enjoy great company, food, and drink featuring their signature drink for the evening the Purple Promise.

#familypromisegivingday #familypromise #FPWaukesha #WaukeshaCounty #Maddys #endfamilyhomelessness

02. A CAR IS NOT A HOME

Family Living in Their Car Has it Repossessed

Accompaniment

A car is not a home. At least it should not be. Unfortunately, over the past few weeks, there have been a few families who have reached out to us who are living in their car. One family was living in their car since December. Being a student, with a challenging family situation, led to this mom losing her home. This family recently entered the Apartment shelter program.

Another mom and her two children were staying in their car. Mom bought a gym membership so that the family could shower and get ready for work and school. She initially reached out to Family Promise asking if we could help with a car payment. This is not part of our services. About two weeks later she contacted us again. As she and her kids were getting ready at the gym, her car was repossessed. Imagine what it would be like to walk into the parking lot and realize that your car is gone. She lost her transportation, her home, and her possessions.

A friend from work picked them up and provided transportation. Family Promise did help her retrieve her vehicle. And now as a participant in our Shelter Diversion program her family is living doubled up. The property owner is willing to put them on the lease for an increase in rent. These two families will share this unit for the foreseeable future.

The fact is no one deserves to live in their car. Yet, if a family has a history of evictions or poor credit, wages that are too low to afford an apartment, experiences a medical emergency or a broken relationship, loses a job, or does not have the savings to provide a security deposit, they do what they have to survive. This is why Family Promise exists. We provide services and offer resources to support families and have a terrific staff that strives to make sure that a car does not become a home and if it does, it is only for a short time.

03. WISH LIST

The Apartment Shelters are in need of supplies.

Volunteer

We are in need of items for the families in the Apartment Shelter program. Would you consider having your congregation, workplace, book club conduct a supply drive? Some of the items that are needed are:

Laundry Detergent
Trash Bags
Hand Soap
Dishwasher Pods
Toilet Scrub Brush
Lufas
Shower liners
Disinfectant spray
Toilet Cleaner

Contact Tasha to coordinate the donation of supplies

04. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US

New book tells story of those who are working and homeless

Accompaniment

New book tells story of working families who are experiencing homelessness

The GAP report prepared by the National ow Income Housing Coalition demonstrates the need for affordable housing across the country and in Waukesha County.

Author Brian Goldstone has written a new book titled: There is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America. This book follows a number of families who are homeless and working. The housing crisis is resulting in more and more individuals and families who are working but still cannot afford housing. In this interview with CBS News he says that homelessness is a policy choice in the United States. Families are not falling into homelessness but are being pushed into homelessness because of low income jobs. Goldstone says, "Homelessness in this country is a policy choice. It's a choice that we as a society has made." There is not one county in the United States where a worker can be paid the minimum wage and afford a two bedroom apartment.

His book focuses on Atlanta which he says is both unique and representative of trends across the country. The city of Atlanta has seen a renaissance of sorts but that revival is often powered by people who when leaving work go home to their car, a hotel or a shelter.

You can also read an essay he wrote for the NY Times: America is Pushing Its Workers Into Homelessness.

With the growing number of households struggling to make ends meet and afford housing the timing to cut interventions such as Section 8 Housing Vouchers seems like particularly bad timing. A study from the University of Washington found that for a single income household with two children, an infant and school-age child, living in a two bedroom apartment in Waukesha County to be truly self-sufficient (without any government or non-profit assistance) would need to make $37 an hour to make ends meet.

Here are other books to read to explore the issue of homelessness

Evicted, Matthew Desmond
Homelessness is a Housing Problem, Gregg Colburn
Poverty, By America, Matthew Desmond
Meant for More, Karen Olson - founder Family Promise

POLL OF THE WEEK

Would you participate in a book club that focuses on books related to housing and homelessness?

0%Yes
0%No

O5. THANK YOU

Three board members terms ending

Board of Trustees

We have a heartfelt gratitude for Lynn Marsh, Coleen Valley and Jamie Zussman for their loyal and dedicated service to Family Promise of Waukesha County. Lynn and Coleen are departing the board after serving six years and Jamie has been a part of the board for seven years. Lynn has served as treasurer and chair of the organization. Jamie had served as the vice-chair and Coleen has been the secretary for four years.

Joining the board shortly before the pandemic, all three have been a part of significant change at Family Promise of Waukesha County. They have played significant roles in guiding the organization and helping it to grow. Thank you to Lynn, Coleen and Jamie!

Interested in learning more about the board of trustees? Contact Joe Nettesheim

FIVE PLUS

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing you a happy, peace and joy-filled Easter.

HAPPY PASSOVER

Chag Pesach Sameach to all who are celebrating Passover this past week.

SPONSOR THE GOLF OUTING - JULY 21

The Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing will be Monday, July 21 at the Oconomowoc Golf Club. Our theme for 2025 is Raise Your Hand; Lift Their Future. We are now accepting sponsors for the outing. You can sponsor the golf tournament or the outing.

Our foundational value has long been community involvement. Your participation in the golf outing can have a generational impact. Click to learn more about Golf Outing Sponsorships

VJS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOUNDATION 5K: PRICES GO UP AFTER FRIDAY, MARCH 14

Exciting news, this year, we’re a beneficiary at the 5th Annual VJS Construction Services Community Foundation 5K! Join us on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at 8 a.m. at this fun 5K run/walk starting in the VJS parking lot and circling the Pewaukee Business Park. Strollers and pets are welcome; we are excited to see you there!