FP FIVE: GRATITUDE AND POSITIVITY

joe26971
Jun 6
7 min read

June 6, 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.

In this edition, you will find these stories:

GRATITUDE
FAMILY SECURES A HOME
A BABY IS BORN
FAMILY SUPPORT HELPS AVOID HOMELESSNESS
LIFT THEIR FUTURE

POLL OF THE WEEK

What do you consider success for a FPWC program?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Cassikey, come look at my new home!”

-Little boy who moved into an apartment speaking to our Family Advocate Cassidy

NOTE

The stories in this edition of the FP Five are focused on gratitude and positivity! Escaping homelessness is a journey that involves hard work, perseverance, and communal support. Along the way we try to celebrate every positive step taken by a family. This edition is celebrating those steps and those who help make it happen: staff, volunteers, donors, and our community.

01.GRATITUDE

10 things for which we are thankful . (In no particlular order.)

Gratitude

We can never say thank you enough! There are many people who are involved in walking with families on their journey. While not a comprehensive list, here are 10 occurrences that have recently made us feel deep gratitude.

Thank you to these groups for making meals for families:
- First Congregational UCC, Waukesha
- Journey 21
- Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church
- Our Savior Lutheran, Oconomowoc
- St Joan of Arc, Nashotah
- St. Catherine, Mapleton
Thank you to our Golf Outing Committee which includes Patti Ewald, Patrice Hofbauer, Jamie Zussman, Claire Bessette, Cindy Meckl, Marcia Burke, Rob Retlzaff, Jeff Thiel Julie Bice and Lisa Smits for assembling the baskets.

Thank you to two anonymous donors who set the pace for the Giving Day.

Thank you to all who serve on the board of trustees or a committee.

Thank you to foundations for recent gifts: VJS Construction Services, Mallinger Family Foundation, Delafield Community Fund, and Eaton Corporation.

Thank you to the supporters who are allowing us to use a house for Transitional Housing.

Thank you to all of our golf outing sponsors. See who they are and please frequent their establishments.

Learn More About Our Sponsors

Thank you to all of our Volunteer Coordinators and a spirited meeting on Monday.

Thank you to our team who exhibit creativity, professionalism, and compassion.
Thank you to the families who graciously and humbly allow us into their lives during a very vulnerable time. It is a sacred space.

We appreciate everyone who supports Family Promise of Waukesha in large and small ways as well as in ways that are seen and unseen.

02. FAMILY SECURES A HOME

After one month in shelter they found new housing .

Mission

Congratulations to a family who left the Apartment Shelter Program into their own apartment. Perseverance and drive pay off as this very determined mother of three was in the shelter program for a little over a month before securing a new home. They have also chosen to participate in our Stabilization program, which means they will participate in case management and have access to additional services and resources for the next 12 months.

When Cassidy, our Shelter Family Advocate stopped by their new apartment the little boy, who cannot pronounce her name, and calls her "cassikey" As she enters the apartment he runs up to her, grabs her hand and says "cassikey, come look at my new home" as he leads her into the living room. Then he tells her that she needs to try "his new soft couch."

The apartment was fully furnished, there was a fully stocked refrigerator and smiles on the kids' faces. Cassidy says, “It all feels worth it, every phone call, text, frustration, and worry. Beyond proud of the work that [mom] put in and now she is enrolled in the stabilization program so we can continue to support her!

Cassidy joined Family Promise of Waukesha County at the end of February and was excited because this was her “first success story.”

03. A BABY IS BORN

Family who received rent assistance welcomes new baby into a safe and stable home

Mission/Prevention

A family receiving financial support through the Family Homelessness Prevention Program recently gave birth to their first child! This family first approached Family Promise of Waukesha County in fall when they were experiencing homelessness. Through our Shelter Diversion program we were able to help them move into an apartment.

Unfortunately, they weren’t quite able to sustain their new housing for an extended period of time, so they applied and were accepted into our Prevention Program. The goal of the prevention program is to keep families in their homes and avoid the chaos of homelessness. With layered support from Family Promise of Waukesha County, along with other community resources and programs, they are now able to better navigate their various needs.

A family needs a home to have a nursery.

Due to Family Promise’s financial assistance, they were able to welcome a beautiful new addition to their family in the comfort of a stable living situation. In addition to financial assistance, our Prevention Program also offers 1 month of weekly case management meetings to further support families on their journey to long term housing stability. Throughout their participation in our case management sessions, the family gained stable employment, as well as created preventative action steps they can take if/when faced with concerns or needs related to food insecurity, loss of income or employment instability, and other areas of concern the family identified. They are now getting ready to exit our Prevention Program with the full encouragement and belief of our Family Promise Staff in their continued success!

POLL OF THE WEEK

What would you consider success for a FPWC program? (pick only one)

Keep a family off the street, out of car or doubled up
Provide temporary emergency shelter
Secure any housing
Prevent homelessness in the first place

04. FAMILY SUPPORT CAN HELP AVOID HOMELESSNESS

Grateful for all those who are supporting families in need

Mission/Shelter Diversion

The Shelter Diversion program requires staff to find creative solutions to help families in difficult situations. This past week a mom and her 3 year old child, who were living in their car in Waukesha for the two weeks, approached us for help. During an initial assessment/interview it was learned that the family did not have a solid base of support in our area, however they did have family in Indiana. After a few phone calls there was a family member in Indiana willing to give them a place to stay until they could find housing. We provided a one-night stay in a hotel and gas cards so the next day they were able to relocate to Indiana. We also connected them with Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis for further support. This was all completed within 24 hours after initial contact with the family! No doubt this is not a typical solution, but it was one that fit their situation. It speaks to the creativity needed in Shelter Diversion and helping families identify resources they may not realize they have. Mom was grateful for the support we were able to provide and the quickness in responding to their needs.

05. LIFT THEIR FUTURE

Family take step forward due to support of generous donors

Fund Development

The Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing and program are sold out. We are grateful to all of those who are sponsoring the outing, golfing and/or attending the program. If you had hoped to attend in any fashion please contact Julie Bice to be added to a wait list.

There are still opportunities for you to raise your hand and lift the future of families! Here are ways you can impact families with minor children:

Visit our sponsorship page to select any of these sponsorship levels:

Hole
Tent
19th Hole Happy Hour
Entertainment
Auction

Sponsor the Golf Outing

Or raise your hand and provide an item for the raffle, silent or live auction.

Some ideas are:

Packers, Bucks, Brewers, Golden Eagles tickets
Sports outings
Broadway or civic theater tickets
Art
Sports memorabilia
Spirit wear for teams or schools
Home services like window washing, decorating service for Christmas, room painting
Museums or zoo passes
Gift cards to restaurants
Spa Day- hair, makeup, nails, massage
Golf packages
Tools
Items for around the house like a grill, lawn mower, snowblower, flag, plant, or welcome mat
Trips, park stickers, favorite day trip itinerary and gas card
Experiences like zip lining, helicopter ride , mini-golf, bowling, or movie passes
Travel Vouchers
Wine or alcohol and cigars
Your ideas!

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

You can help support the golf outing in a few ways:

Interested in volunteering or being on the wait list contact Julie Bice: julie@familypromisewaukeshawi.org

FIVE PLUS

Happy Birthday, Tasha!

Happy Birthday to our Office Coordinator, Tasha! Tasha is an organized, self starter who has an immense amount of creativity. Email her your birthday wishes. Send her your birthday wishes to

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.

Sentry House

You are invited to the Opening Ceremony of Sentry House 1210 Sentry Drive, on June 9 at 3pm. This ceremony will mark the transition of the Winter Emergency Overflow to a facility providing year round services facilitated by Hebron Housing Services.