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FP FIVE: HOME IS THE CENTER OF LIFE



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May 02, 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:




Author Matthew Desmond was interviewed about his book Poverty, By America. Snippets of his interview are provided. After watching those snippets what is your impression of his insights?



QUOTE OF THE WEEK


Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted and Poverty By America spoke at UWM and Carmen High School during a recent visit to Milwaukee.
Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted and Poverty By America spoke at UWM and Carmen High School during a recent visit to Milwaukee.


01. GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION

Monday, July 21 at the Oconomowoc Golf Club


Fundraiser

Golf registration is now open! Join us for an unforgettable day of fun, networking, and golf at our 5th Annual Golf Outing! Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, this event offers something for everyone. Celebrate our mission with a round of golf, live and silent auctions, prize raffle, and plenty of tasty eats and drinks with good company.


All proceeds help Family Promise of Waukesha County to expand all our programming

initiatives - especially the Oconomowoc Shelter and Prevention programs. Your generosity helps us provide the following services:

  • Rent Assistance 

  • Security Deposits

  • Utilities and Wifi

  • Case Management

  • Car Repairs

  • Bus Passes

  • Shelter Program Leases



Presented by


Sign-up to be a golf outing sponsor today! Deadline for sponsoring is June 30, 2025.





02. VJS RUN/WALK

Run, Walk or Volunteer


Community

You are invited to join us for a fun run/walk sponsored by VJS Construction Services Community Foundation on Saturday May 3 at 8am . The run/walk will start in the VJS parking lot and circle the Pewaukee Business Park. Strollers and pets are welcome!


This is the 5th annual VJS run/walk and each year they select a few non-profit organizations to support. Funds raised from this run/walk will support Family Promise of Waukesha County. It is a great opportunity to come together as a community, get some exercise and support a few great causes. You can participate as a runner, walker or volunteer.



Day of race registration is available!




03. BABY SHOWER

Family in Shelter expecting soon.



Community


A shelter client with Family Promise of Waukesha County is expecting and due in early June. To the left is a list of supplies that the client is requesting in preparation for her hospital bag and baby registry.


If you are interested in helping with requested supplies, please sign-up and review available slots on the form below.


Items can be dropped off at Family Promise of Waukesha County at 139 E North St, Waukesha, WI 53187. 


Contact Tasha for questions or to coordinate the donation of supplies.






04. FRESH START FURNISHINGS

Friday, May 16 from 10 am - 2 pm


Volunteer


Denise O'Halloran and Gail Frangiamore have been providing furniture for families who secure their own housing and when we establish a new Apartment Shelter Unit. All the items they collect they store at a barn. Sometimes the barn needs to be cleaned and reorganized. Could you help Denise and Gail on Friday May 16 from 10-2pm?


For more details or to sign up contact Tasha.







O5. HOME IS THE CENTER OF LIFE

Author Matthew Desmond visited Milwaukee this past week.


Accompaniment


Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted was in Milwaukee to give a talk about his most recent book Poverty, By America. A teacher at Carmen High School in Milwaukee saw that he was coming to town and invited him to speak with his class. Desmond highlighted the challenge of housing and how the cost of housing has far outpaced the increase in wages. In this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Article Desmond is quoted as saying, "Whatever you care about, whatever keeps you up at night, whether it's education, whether it's how safe your city is, social mobility, the environment, housing, the housing crisis plays a huge role in that,"


When one student asked Desmond how he can make a change in how the government approaches housing he suggested that this young man should, speak up for what he believes in. Desmond noted that during the pandemic, special funding bills that paused evictions and increased food subsidies helped cut child poverty rates, but few celebrated that.



Whatever you care about, whatever keeps you up at night, whether it's education, whether it's how safe your city is, social mobility, the environment, housing, the housing crisis plays a huge role in that . . .


Since writing the book Evicted, Desmond has established the Eviction Lab, a think tank based out of Princeton that tracks the rate of evictions across the country. He has become a respected leader in understanding poverty and homelessness. Recently he was interviewed on the Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart. Here are snippets from that interview.



INTERVENTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE.

The things we are doing to reduce poverty matters and lift millions of people out of poverty every year.

The child poverty rate in the United States is double what it is in Canada.


WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION

Sometimes people benefit from poverty without recognizing it.


THE POVERTY GAP CAN BE CLOSED.

If all the taxes that are owed were collected we could close the poverty gap.


INTERVENTIONS SHOULD BE SEEN AS INVESTMENTS IN PEOPLE

The return on assistance to those in poverty is beneficial to everyone.





POLL OF THE WEEK




Matthew Desmond's Insights are . . .choose all that apply.

  • 0%Challenging

  • 0%Encouraging

  • 0%Eye opening

  • 0%Questionable

You can vote for more than one answer.



FIVE PLUS


Giving Day Results

We did it! Thank you to all who supported Giving Day 2025. Family Promise of Waukesha County raised $126,306. The generosity of Waukesha County was on full display as we were the affiliate with the most money raised and second most number of donors.


Special thank you to those who helped create the Community Challenge Fund. You gave us a great start. We are also thankful for Maddy's Bar and Music Lounge for hosting our Giving Day party. It was great fun and a really nice way to end an important day for families experiencing homelessness.





CALENDAR


May 2 Courtney Birthday

May 3 VJS Foundation Run/Walk to benefit Family Promise of Waukesha County

May 5 Staff Huddle

May 5 Housing Enrollment Meeting

May 6 Shelter Access Meeting

May 7 Waukesha County Business Alliance Housing Forum

May 8 Waukesha County Affordable Housing Coalition

May 12 Staff Meeting

May 12-13 Family Promise financial audit

May 13 FP Executive Committee Meeting

May 13 Heart Committee

May 16 Women and Girls Fund: Women of Distinction Luncheon

May 19 Housing Action Coalition Board of Directors

May 19 FP Board of Trustees

May 28 Speed Networking: Housing agencies in Waukesha County

July 21 Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing


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