.png)
This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, December 9, 2022.
The Friday Five is a weekly blog post/update that focuses on the top five occurrences, issues, opportunities facing Family Promise each week. It is our hope that it will help you stay informed and connected to the mission of Family Promise of Waukesha County.
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:
Crystal fell three months behind on her rent after having brain surgery to remove a tumor. Family Promise was there to help her with rent. She shares her story in this video.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The wage needed to afford a two bedroom apartment in Waukesha County is $19.21. What would you favor regarding the minimum wage?
REMINDER
Please deliver all Christmas gifts to our Day Center on or before December 12. If this is an issue please contact Maria: 262-968-2321 ex. 105 or maria@familypromisewaukeshawi.org. Our address is 139 E. North Street Waukesha, WI 53188. Please call before dropping off gifts.
1. SONGS FOR THE SEASON
You can get your heart ready for Christmas by attending Enter the Season with Song, a special Christmas concert hosted by St Catherine of Alexandria. There is no cost to attend, just an opportunity to make a free will offering to benefit families Family Promise of Waukesha County.
The concert will be Sunday, December 11 at 2 pm. A special thank you to Bill Frederick and Steve Johnson for organizing the event and all the musicians and instrumentalists for sharing their gifts in support of families experiencing homelessness.
2. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
We are moving toward our goal of $100,000 for our end of the year campaign Home for the Holidays. To date we have raised $51,265! There are only 22 days left to meet our goal. Your gift allows families like Crystal to maintain their home and not experience the chaos of homelessness. Children who experience homelessness are:
87% more likely to drop out of school
45% of youth experience depression and anxiety
less likely to access health care
What does a family need most this holiday season? A home!
3. HOLIDAY DOOR DECORATIONS
The staff of Family Promise is having a door decorating contest for the holidays -- and you are the judge! We ask you to review the photos of each door and then select the one that you prefer in the poll below. Voting closes December 15. Awards will be given.
Click a photo to see a close up of each door.
Vote for your favorite door!
Which holiday door is your favorite?
1. In the Holiday Spirit
2. Cheer up, dude. It's Christmas
3. Simple Snowflakes
4. Me and My Snowmies
4. WELCOME KELLY
Kelly Hawkins joined our staff as a Case Manager on November 10. She processes, set goals and offers case management to the families who receive rent, utilities or car repair assistance. In this discussion with Joe Nettesheim she discusses why she resonates with the mission of Family Promise, and holiday traditions. Meet Kelly through this interview and let her know we appreciate her commitment to families who are economically vulnerable.
5. FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE
A new survey found that two thirds of respondents felt that the federal minimum wage of $7.25 is too low. While many companies are paying beyond the minimum wage what needs to be considered is what does a family need to receive in pay to afford a home. This is the other side of the affordable housing crisis. If workers were paid more, they could afford the rent.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition Gap Report, for a worker in Waukesha County to afford a two bedroom apartment price at fair market value their wage would need to be $19.21 an hour. This is what we mean when we say the cost of rent in Waukesha County is out of reach. All of this is happening while according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, corporate profits increased 4.6% in 2022 and 22.6% in 2021.
POLL OF THE WEEK
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The wage needed to afford a two bedroom apartment in Waukesha County is $19.21. What would you favor regarding the minimum wage?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The wage needed to afford a 2- bedroom apartment in Waukesha County is $19.21. What would you favor?
- Keep it the same
- Disband the minimum wage
- Raise it to $12/hour
- Raise it to $15/ hour
STAFF CONTACT INFO
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
December 11 Christmas Concert to benefit Family Promise
at St Catherine, W359 N8522 Brown St, Oconomowoc - 2:00 pm
December 12 Deliver gifts for the holiday gift collection to Family Promise
(or before) 139 E North St., Waukesha, 53188
December 19 Board of Trustees Meeting
December 23 Offices closed
December 26 Offices closed
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. JUST CLICK THE ICONS BELOW.
You can also join our Facebook volunteer group to learn about volunteer opportunities.