FP FIVE: GRATITUDE FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT

January 10, 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:

1. WINTER OVERFLOW SHELTER OPENING NEXT WEEK

   
   

2. OCONOMOWOC APARTMENT SHELTER IS FURNISHED

   
   

3. HAVE AN ADVENTURE

   
   

4. HELP PLAN GOLF OUTING

   
   

5. JOIN OUR TEAM

   
   
   
   

POLL OF THE WEEK

There have been a number of stories in the newspaper and news about homelessness in Waukesha. These stories...

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

-Leo Tolstoy

POLL OF THE WEEK

1. WINTER OVERFLOW SHELTER OPENING NEXT WEEK

Shelter should be ready on January 16th

Community

After a few obstacles, including a burst pipe and subsequent flooding, the Emergency Winter Overflow Shelter should be ready to open on Thursday, January 16th. Family Promise of Waukesha County, Hebron Housing Services, Hope Center, NAMI, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul, among others, have been working collaboratively to ensure that this service is a reality. The program will provide shelter from 7 PM to 7 AM until the end of March. During the day, families are welcome at the Family Promise Day Center and singles can go to the Hope Center.

We continue our efforts on recruiting individual volunteers to drive clients from the shelter to their respective day centers, make and serve meals, or support the Family Promise staff at the Day Center. With limited funds, this program is reliant on the response of our community. You can review the necessary steps to get involved here:

2. OCONOMOWOC APARTMENT SHELTER IS FURNISHED

Intake process is underway

Mission

Our first family has started the intake process to utilize a leased apartment in Oconomowoc to serve families experiencing homelessness. The apartment will be used as an emergency shelter for families with minor children. The Oconomowoc School District will provide the referral. The collaboration between the school district and Family Promise is promising because of the partnered care being offered to those experiencing homelessness. Families will be able to stay up to ninety days. During this time, they will work with a Family Advocate who will assist them in addressing obstacles to housing.

We are grateful to Wangard Properties who are willing to partner with Family Promise. We are also thankful to a family who have provided a financial gift to cover the cost of the apartment. As always Fresh Start Furnishings, led by Denise O'Halloran and Gail Frangiamore, and their amazing crew of people transformed the apartment into a home! This project is so heartwarming because of the many levels of partnership that have made this happen!

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Ever wonder the financial cost of each program per household? Here is our accounting for families we assisted in 2024:

3. HAVE AN ADVENTURE

Volunteers are needed to assist in Point in Time Count

Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteers are needed to help with the Point in Time Count which starts on Wednesday, January 22nd from 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM. As a volunteer, you would be part of a team with a leader. Training for volunteers occurs at 10:00 PM with the counting starting at 11:00 PM. Volunteers can select to count in the City of Waukesha or request other parts of the county. Due to grant funding, Family Promise is required to have at least two volunteers helping with the count.

A Point-In-Time, or PIT, is a statistically reliable, unduplicated count of people experiencing homelessness during a designated one-night period. Wisconsin conducts this count twice per year in January and July. According to established guidelines, the count cannot start before 11:00 PM on January 22nd.

The intention is to capture a minimum amount of information on the homeless population in order to create a "snapshot" of what homelessness looks like in a neighborhood, city, or state. The data collected through the Point-In-Time process is reported in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) that is provided to the US Congress. Homeless information is also reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is utilized to develop the Housing Inventory Chart for the Balance of State Continuum of Care.

Questions? Email Joe Nettesheim: joe@familypromisewaukeshawi.org

4. HELP PLAN GOLF OUTING

Seeking more members for the Golf Outing Committee

Fund Development

Mark your calendars for July 21st, 2025 and watch for further details for the Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing! This will be our fifth year holding the outing at Oconomowoc Golf Club.

The purpose of the outing is to:

• Gather the Family Promise community

• Increase awareness about family homelessness in Waukesha County

• Raise funds to support the services of Family Promise of Waukesha County

• Have a great day of golf

• Share our gratitude for all who support Family Promise

  
  

We hope you will join us!

We are also in need of volunteers to join the Golf Outing Planning Committee. Some ways comittee members may help is by planning on course educational opportunities, securing silent and live auction items, promoting the event, inviting sponsorships, and other tasks. It truly takes many hands to make this work light. The commitment is regular meetings starting in Spring with tasks to complete between meetings. The closer we get to the event, the more time we put into making it happen. If you want to have more fun than you can imagine, please contact Joe Nettesheim to discuss your involvement.

5. JOIN OUR TEAM

Please share these opportunities with your friends and family

Vision/Leadership

Family Promise of Waukesha County is hiring. We are looking to fill four roles. Please share this information with those you know who may be seeking an opportunity to support families who are financially vulnerable. Click on the file to read each job description.

Candidates can apply by emailing a cover letter and resume to Joe Nettesheim at joe@familypromisewaukeshawi.org.

The employment opportunities are:

Outreach and Fund Development Coordinator

This role focuses on developing resources and partnerships which allow our organization to fulfill its mission.

Shelter Diversion Coordinator

Build the foundation and structure for our new Shelter Diversion Program.

Office Coordinator

Support the day to day operations of the organization from being the first point of contact for volunteers, clients, and donors to bookkeeping, facility management, and data tracking.

Family Advocate

Work directly with families to set goals, address obstacles, make connections, and assist them in escaping homelessness and secure permanent housing.

To learn more, click here:

FIVE PLUS

Gratitude

HERE IS A LIST OF REASONS WHY WE ARE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE:

1 Families who secure housing!

2 Having the staff, support from volunteers, and resources to serve 118 families in 2024. (unofficial count)

3 A Women's Group at Oakwood Church who provided new supplies for three apartments in the Shelter Program.

4 Individuals, volunteers, and groups stepping up to help with the EOS.

5 Our Tuesday Guys who helped paint one of our Apartment Shelter units.

6 A WHEDA and CDBG grant to tuckpoint the building and repair the elevator in 2025.

7 A great response to our A Place to Call Home raising over $200,000 surpassing our goal of $150,000.

8 Fresh Start Furnishings setting up apartments for shelter and for families moving into their own homes.

9 A committed group of board members including 5 new people since October.

10 Donors who help provide a house for the Transitional Living Program and the Oconomowoc Apartment Shelter Program.

11 You! In the midst of challenging times for so many, we can always count on those who support families with their time, treasure, and talent.

CALENDAR

January 14-15 Emergency Overflow Shelter Set Up

January 16 Emergency Overflow Shelter Opens

January 16 Affordable Housing Discussion @ St. Bart's

January 17 Joe Speaks at Elm Grove Methodist

January 20 Board of Trustees Meeting

January 21 Waukesha Service Provider Meeting @1:30 - R&R Insurance

January 22 Point in Time Count

January 23 PIT Count

January 27 Staff Meeting

January 29 Fund Development Committee

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