Apr 14, 20235 min read

FRIDAY FIVE : GIVING DAY - APRIL 20

This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, April 14, 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:

GIVING DAY
COMMUNITY SHELTER MEDIA RELEASE
PROGRAM UPDATE - SECTION 8 VOUCHERS
FAIR HOUSING ACT
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Volunteer training for the Community Shelter began this week. We have 28 partner organizations and over 200 volunteers who will support families experiencing homelessness. Thank you!

POLL OF THE WEEK

Will you participate in Giving Day on April 20?

1. GIVING DAY

Family Promise Giving Day will be Thursday, April 20. Even though this is a national day, all funds go to the local affiliate. Our goal this year is $50,000! These funds will be used to support our shelter programs. The addition of the Community Shelter increases our budget by $180,000. Expenses include leasing the facility, supplies, financial support for families who are in the shelter, and staff. We believe wholeheartedly that this is a small price to give families a chance to achieve permanent independent housing and stem the tide of chronic homelessness.

FP GIVING DAY - APRIL 20

Our theme for the day is A Bed to Sleep In. This idea came from a phrase used by Ann, a participant in the Apartment Shelter program. When asked what was her best day at Family Promise of Waukesha County, she responded that it was her first day because she was able to see "my kids sleeping in a bed." After two months in her car, doing everything in her power to keep her family's experience of homelessness a secret, sleeping in a bed with a pillow, under the covers, being read a bedtime story and falling asleep with a roof over their head had to feel like a luxury.

No family, no child should ever have to sleep in a car or a tent. They all need a bed to sleep in.

We have a head start toward our $50,000 goal from our Giving Day sponsors. They are collectively providing funds accompanied with a challenge for all of us to match their generosity. The challenge grant currently stands at $17,500 with the possibility it will increase before April 20. Thank you to:

Vernon Evangelical Lutheran
Waterstone Mortgage
ATC
A loyal, consistent, dedicated and anonymous supporter of Family Promise.

2. COMMUNITY SHELTER MEDIA RELEASE

You can read the official announcement of the opening of the Family Promise Community Shelter.

Grateful to the Waukesha Freeman for sharing our announcement.

Opening day for the Community Shelter is right around the corner. Here are two special activities to help prepare:

1] Community Shelter Food Drive

Help stock the new Community Shelter with individually wrapped food items for breakfast and lunch. We will be receiving these items at the new Community Shelter on Saturday April 22 from 12-2pm. The shelter is located at 1210 Sentry Drive Waukesha WI 53186. See the brochure and event page for details.

2] Dialogue of Hope

Join us on April 18 as we prepare to open our new Community Shelter Program with a special conversation with Michelle Miller. Michelle is a current member of the Family Promise board of trustees who has lived experience of homelessness. She will share her story and the transformative impact of Family Promise.

Here is a sample of her story

Attendees can participate in a Q + A. Registration is necessary.

POLL OF THE WEEK

WILL YOU PARTICIPATE IN GIVING DAY ON APRIL 20?

YES, I PLAN TO MAKE A FINANCIAL GIFT
YES, I WILL MAKE A GIFT AND SHARE INFO ABOUT IT
YES, I WILL MAKE A FINANCIAL GIFT AND VOLUNTEER FOR FP!
I AM NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A FINANCIAL GIFT BUT WILL VOLUNTEER

3. PROGRAM UPDATE - SECTION 8 VOUCHERS

Family Promise has been working with the Waukesha Housing Authority to assist families experiencing homelessness to receive a Section 8 housing voucher. The voucher allows for qualified individuals to pay only 30% of their income toward rent. The state pays the landlord the remaining amount.

A recent article in the Waukesha Freeman stated that 42% of renters in Waukesha county are cost burdened with rent paying significantly more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Therefore, a Section 8 voucher is essential for families to achieve stable housing.

We are pleased that 2 families have been awarded a voucher. Three additional families are going through the process. The two that have received it are confronted with finding landlords who are willing to accept the voucher. Yet it is a step in the right direction, and we remain hopeful that this program will be a step for families to get out of poverty and homelessness.

SHELTER STATS FOR YEAR TO DATE AND MONTH (MARCH )

PREVENTION STATS YEAR TO DATE AND MONTH (MARCH)

4. FAIR HOUSING ACT

55 years ago this week the Fair Housing Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. This legislation made it illegal to discriminate against tenants on the basis of religion, race, disability. According to the Housing and Urban Development website, “The 1968 Act expanded on previous acts and prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap and family status. Title VIII of the Act is also known as the Fair Housing Act (of 1968).” The central tenant was to end housing discrimination based on race. It was meant to end the practice of redlining (which there has been evidence of as late as 2015) and of racial covenants, which is a significant cause of racial segregation in Milwaukee .

We celebrate the Fair Housing Act and April as Fair Housing Month because we believe that housing is a human right and is the basis of family and societal stability. Every child deserves a home.

5. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Lisa LaBorde celebrated her second work anniversary at the end of March. Lisa serves as our Administrative Assistant. Even though her role is often behind the scenes, she is often first the point of contact for volunteers, clients, and donors. She plays an important role in making sure everything is running smoothly. We invite you to congratulate and thank Lisa for her service to families experiencing homelessness!

Thank you, Lisa!