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This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, October 13, 2023.
The Friday Five is a weekly update that focuses on the 5 main things happening at Family Promise Waukesha County. This communication should update, inform and advocate for families who are financially vulnerable.
Our mission is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence
through a community-based response.
The stories you can read this week are:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.
-Brian Tracy
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Thank you to Rebecca Seymour for taking photos of our staff for new staff directory. Grateful to Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran, Oconomowoc for collecting and delivering supplies.
My perception of poverty in Waukesha County is . . .
1. PLANS FOR WINTER SHELTER
Family Promise Waukesha to manage shelter with Hebron Housing Services.
Plans are underway for Family Promise of Waukesha County and Hebron Housing Services to jointly manage the Emergency Overflow Shelter this winter. Being able to partner with Hebron Housing Services will only strengthen the services of both organizations. Family Promise will provide case management to families with minor children while Hebron Housing Services will focus on single adults. Plans thus far have included:
Review of the shelter guest manual
Plans for training additional team members
Meeting with partner organizations to discuss their continued involvement
Our biggest focus concern at the moment is hiring additional Shelter Advocates. The Shelter Advocate should be a person who is:
a leader
able to manage confrontational situations
compassionate and an active listener
organized
able to maintain clear and consistent boundaries
able to protect confidentiality
willing to follow through on expectations of families and volunteers
able to problem solve
ethical
possesses a client first mentality
Please help spread the word about this role which is making a significant impact in the lives of families.
2. THIRD QUARTER STATISTICS
On pace to serve over 100 families in 2023
Family Promise of Waukesha County is on pace to serve over 100 families through the two shelter programs and the Family Homelessness Prevention Program. This is five times more than the 20 families we served on average before the pandemic. While it is sad and discouraging that the need has grown we are proud of our ability to adapt and respond to the needs of our community. Thank you to all of the volunteers and donors whose commitment to families experiencing homelessness makes this possible.
After three quarters in 2023, we have assisted the following:
Financial Assistance to Prevent Family Homelessness
61 unique families
79 adults
123 children
70% make less than $2,000 a month
Illness and job loss are the leading reasons for requesting assistance
44% white
22% black
9% two or more races
2% asian American
2% unknown
33% hispanic
Apartment and Community Shelter Programs
21 total families
48 children
50% of children are under age 5
86% are households led by a single mom
47% black
17% two or more races
9% white
5% hispanic
Below are statistics for the month of September 2023 for our Prevention and Shelter programs:
3. WI SUPREME COURT RULING IMPACTS EVICTIONS
Evictions can only stay on a CCAP record for two years
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that an eviction is to be removed from the Consolidated Court Automation Program commonly known as CCAP two years later. Previously an eviction would remain on the public record for twenty-years. This policy penalized renters for a period that compares with sentencing for the most serious crimes in Wisconsin.
Those who have gone through bankruptcy
have it removed after seven years. We are pleased with this ruling because it attempts to strike a balance between giving landlords information about recent evictions, while offering renters an opportunity to move past prior financial challenges. Too often penalties focused on those who are evicted mire them in housing instability, without a realistic option out of poverty.
One of the biggest challenges in helping a family find housing is when they have an eviction on their record. This change should help them receive a second chance.
POLL OF THE WEEK
My perception of poverty in Waukesha County is . . . (answer all that apply)
0%Not too bad
0%Worse than most of us know
0%Impacts everyone's quality of life
0%Non-existent
You can vote for more than one answer.
4. NAME THAT STAFF MEMBER QUIZ
How well do you know the Family Promise of Waukesha Team?
With the new additions to our Family Promise of Waukesha County team, are you able to identify who is who? Below are photos of our entire staff. Go to the quiz and select the correct name of the person shown in the photo. One point for most staff members. Two points newer staff members. Prizes for the top 2 scores will be provided.
5. HOME FOR GOOD
End of Year funding appeal to kick-off in November.
The start of our end of the year campaign is a few weeks away, but today we ask you to begin considering a gift to Family Promise of Waukesha County before the end of 2023. The theme for this campaign is Home for Good! We see this as having three applications.
Home for Good provides families stability and safety.
A home allows a family to follow a routine, stay warm, have family meal time, complete homework and read bedtime stories. A home is good because it allows a family to thrive.
Home for Good strengthens our community.
Homelessness is not an isolated incident. It is a determinant of our communities overall health. The consequences of homelessness have an emotional, physical, spiritual and economic effect on all of us. A home is good because it strengthens our community.
From Waukesha to Delafield, to Oconomowoc, to Menomonee Falls to Eagle and New Berlin.
Home for Good is about sustainability.
Family Promise of Waukesha County helps families to attain their forever home. Our support ensures that homelessness does not become a lifestyle. A home for good is a sustainable solution for families experiencing homelessness.
When you provide a gift to Family Promise of Waukesha County you are providing a HOME FOR GOOD.
It is good for the family,
It is good for our community and,
It is permanent and sustainable.
WISH LIST
Our two biggest needs this week are:
Pick N Save gift cards in denominations of $10, $25 and $50 each.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Oct 16 FP Board of Trustees
Oct 24 Winter Glow
Oct 26 Project Homeless Connect
Oct 27 Last day of Community Shelter
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Access our Threads account through Instagram
@family.promise.waukesha@threads.net
You can also join our Facebook volunteer group to learn about volunteer opportunities.