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This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, July 21, 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.
Please note the Family Promise of Waukesha County office
will be closed on Monday, July 24.
The stories you can read this week are:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
If you cannot feed [house] 100 people, feed [house] just one.
-Mother Teresa
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Mattie Martinez Case Manager, Maria Mundt Program Coordinator, and Lead Volunteer/Intern Heather Gilvary Hamad, attended the Home For Everyone Conference this week.
My reaction to the number of newborns starting life in shelter is:
1. THE GOOD SHELTER NEWS
Shelter family welcomes new baby!
Congratulations to a family who is staying in the Apartment Shelter who gave birth to a brand new baby boy. We are so excited for them as they welcome their first child. More good news for them is that they have also signed a lease! They will be moving into a one bedroom apartment in Waukesha in the next couple weeks. Family Promise of Waukesha County will continue to work with them and support them in their new adventures.
Welcome to a new family who entered shelter this week. This family consists of an expectant mother and her 11 year old son. There have been three newborns in shelter since the end of April.
POLL OF THE WEEK
My reaction to the number of newborns starting life in shelter is:
Shock
Happy they have a safe place
We need to urgently work to end family homelessness
Sadness and anger
2. LIVE AUCTION ITEMS PROXY BIDS
Unable to participate in the Live Auction? Get a proxy bidder.
Generous donors have provided some wonderful live auction items. These items will be auctioned off on July 24 after dinner at the golf outing. They include:
Luxury Suite at American Family Field for 16 to see the Brewers
Chef-inspired dinner at Tofte’s Table
Week at Whitebirch Estates in Pelican Lake, MN.
If you are unable to attend the event you can bid by proxy. If you are interested in using a proxy bid you would contact Joe Nettesheim, joe@familypromisewaukeshawi.org or 262-968-2321, and share with him the item on which you wish to bid and your maximum bid. This must be done before Monday, July 24. You would also need to provide credit card information in the event that you win the item. A volunteer would be assigned to represent you during the live auction. They will not bid more than your maximum bid and will try to obtain the item for you at the lowest amount over the minimum bid. To participate in the live auction with a proxy you are committing to the minimum bid for that item.
3. INTERNS FOR FAMILY PROMISE WAUKESHA
Seeking UWM Students to Serve as Communications and Social Work Interns
We are pleased to announce that Family Promise of Waukesha County will be adding two interns late summer/early fall. One intern will assist in the area of marketing and communications while the second position is for a social work intern. We are able to offer this program in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Utilizing a workforce development grant, UWM is able to cover the cost of placing UWM students in internship roles.
Prospective candidates can learn more about both positions by using the link below and scroll to Family Promise of Waukesha County. Then click on the appropriate job description to learn more and apply.
Overview for both internships:
Be a UWM student
Be paid $17/hour
Work 10 hours a week for 9 months
4. BUILDING BLOCKS
Understanding the affordable housing shortage in Waukesha County
Wisconsin Policy Forum, founded in 2018, has developed a report regarding affordable housing in Waukesha County. The purpose of the report is to help Waukesha County residents, governing officials, service providers, philanthropic leaders a better understanding of the affordable housing crisis facing Waukesha county. Here are some highlights of the report:
Waukesha County has a high percentage of homeownership.
There are stark racial disparities in homeownership. 78% of white residents own their homes while only 30% of black residents in Waukesha County are homeowners.
There are extremely low vacancy rates in Waukesha County
There is a high jobs to housing ratio, meaning many who work in Waukesha County do not live in Waukesha County.
Median gross monthly rent in Waukesha County is $1,147. This is considerably higher than nearby counties. The median in Washington County is $967 while Ozaukee County is $960.
This median gross monthly rent has grown over $278 or 32% over the past 10 years.
43.4% of renters in Waukesha County spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. This is second only to Milwaukee County at 48.5%
Many professions do not pay enough for a single income household to afford the monthly median rent. This includes: janitors, medical assistants, bus drivers, cashiers, home health aids, cooks, nursing assistants, hairdressers among many others.
Our community urgently needs to make room for affordable housing. The need has been articulated over and over again. What is holding us back is a will to act. Yet creating affordable housing is what is best for all of us in the long term.
Read about affordable housing in the Building Blocks study.
5. RISE UP SUMMIT
Learn about services in Waukesha County
You are invited to the Rise Up Summit on August 3 from 8am-3pm at the Brookfield Conference Center. This is a day of collaboration, strengths-based, high-level systems work, and community building.
The Rise Up Summit is an opportunity to come together and provide comprehensive services to everyone in Waukesha County. Hosted by the Community Action Coalition, this summit is a chance to connect with fellow service providers, learn from experts in the field, and make a difference in our community.
Click the link to register:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
July 24 Family Promise Golf Outing - Oconomowoc Golf Club
July 30 Presentation to Church of the Resurrection, Pewaukee
Aug 6 Oakwood Church Picnic
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You can also join our Facebook volunteer group to learn about volunteer opportunities.