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This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, September 15, 2023.
The Friday Five is a weekly update that focuses on the 5 main things happening at Family Promise Waukesha County. We also look for ways to advocate and educate about family homelessness. 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:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead
Should Family Promise of Waukesha County continue the Community Shelter in 2024?
1. SUPPLY DRIVE HAPPENING NOW
Drop your supplies off Friday and Saturday
The Supply Drive is here! You can drop off your donation of supplies at the Day Center 139 E North Street Friday, September 15 from 10am-4pm or Saturday, September 16 from 9am to noon. Our greatest needs are hygiene items, cleaning products, bed linens and gift cards. Grocery and gas gift cards are a big need too. Hope to see you during these times:
September 15 10am- 4pm
September 16 9am- noon
We also encourage you to collect items at your place of business or organization. Please contact Maria so we are aware a donation will be coming and to schedule drop off. It could be an alternate date.
2. WELCOME TO NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Case Manager, Intake Coordinator and interns start Monday
We are excited to announce that we have hired a new Case Manager, Intake Coordinator, Social Work Intern and Communications Intern. Welcome to the following new staff members who will start on Monday, September 18.
Tracey Warr will be joining us as Case Manager. She comes to Family Promise after serving as a Case Manager for Child Protective Services at an agency in Milwaukee. Previously she has worked in criminal justice.
Kaitlin Wagner is taking on a new role at Family Promise of Waukesha County, moving from Shelter Supervisor to Intake Coordinator and Housing Navigator. Sje is currently studying at Southern New Hampshire University to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on mental health. She has been with Family Promise since April 2023
Juan Escutia-Arreola will serve as our Communications Intern. Juan is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies with a minor in Film and Communication at UW-Milwaukee. He brings with him Marketing and Social Media experience from his on-campus job at the UW-Milwaukee Union Cinema.
Lisa Maye is a criminal justice student at UWM but is considering a career in social work. She will work as our social work intern.
Jacob Henderson is a student at Waukesha County Technical College working toward an Associates Degree in Human Services. His internship is focused on a variety of tasks in support of our shelter and prevention programs.
Juan and Lisa will both be in the office 10 hours each week.
Our agency continues to grow in program offerings and families served therefore our staff is growing accordingly. We are excited for what these new team members and are proud of all that our staff has accomplished. Their full biographies and photos will be on our website soon.
3. FP QUIZ ANSWERS
Those questions were too difficult!
Joe Nettesheim discusses the questions and gives context to the answers to our trivia game from last week. The consensus was that it was too difficult! Hope this is interesting and informative.
4. EHH PROGRAM GRANTS
Family Promise to receive $34,000 in funding
The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Housing Assistance Program (HAP), and Homeless Prevention Program (HPP) are collectively referred to as the EHH Program. EHH funding originates from Housing and Urban Development and is distributed to the state. In Wisconsin the Balance of State determines how much each Continuum of Care is awarded. Then it is up to the local coalition of agencies to distribute the funds through a competitive application process.
We are pleased to announce that in July 2023, Family Promise of Waukesha County was awarded a Homeless Prevention Program grant for $20,000. These funds will be used for rent assistance to prevent family homelessness in Waukesha County. We also were awarded an Emergency Solutions Grant for $14,000. These funds will be used for the Community Shelter. The funds are made available on October 1, 2023 and can be used through September 30, 2024.
Crystal is a former client who received financial assistance through our Family Homelessness Prevention Program. Learn about the impact this financial assistance can have on families at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Special thank you to Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital for their support of the Family Homelessness Prevention Program. Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital has designated their support to be used for families residing in Northeast Waukesha County. Thank you!
POLL OF THE WEEK
Should Family Promise of Waukesha County continue the Community Shelter in 2024?
0%Yes, it was great
0%Yes, but there is room improvement
0%Yes and I am committed to helping fund it.
0%No, I do not believe it was effective
5. PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT
Volunteers needed for event to be held at Carroll University October 26
Volunteers are needed to support ProjectHomelessConnect (PHC), a community event that brings vital resources together under one roof on one day to best serve those at risk of homelessness in Waukesha County. The inaugural and only in-person Waukesha PHC was held in 2019. PHC services typically include health screenings, dental and vision exams, haircuts, lunch, a resource fair, and take-away hygiene & cold weather items.
The event, led by United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County is a collaborative effort of many agencies, including Family Promise of Waukesha County. It will be held on Thursday, October 26 from 10am to 3:30pm at Carroll University.
See how you can support those experiencing homeless by clicking the button below.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Sept 15 Supply Drive 10am-4pm 139 E North Street
Sept 16 Supply Drive 9am-noon 139 E North Street
Sept 17 Joe to speak at Evangelical and Reformed, Waukesha
Sept 18 New Team Members Start
Sept 18 Board of Trustees Meeting
Sept 21 Staff participate in Unconscious Bias Training Program
Oct 26 Project Homeless Connect
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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.