May 5, 20235 min read

FRIDAY FIVE : GOOD CAUSE EVICTIONS

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

POVERTY, BY AMERICA BOOK DISCUSSION
IT'S GO TIME! LET'S REGISTER FOR THE GOLF OUTING!
GOOD CAUSE EVICTIONS
CAR REPAIR CLINIC
BARK RIVER BASH PLANT SALE

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

L-R: Ginny Brown from Reformation Evangelical Lutheran presented Joe with a check for over $4,000 from their rummage sale; Janis Parker, lead volunteer having a ball at the Community Shelter, Magee Elementary principal Justin Nies presented Joe with a check of $1000 from the Magee PTO; volunteer training this week occurred at the Day Center and the offices of Green Bay Packaging.

POLL OF THE WEEK

What proposal would you support to prevent homelessness?

1. POVERTY, BY AMERICA

BOOK DISCUSSION

Matthew Desmond, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Evicted has published a new book called Poverty, By America. In this book, Desmond reimagines the debate on poverty, making a sweeping argument about why it persists in America: because the rest of us benefit from it. He lays out a program to eradicate poverty in a way that will demand honest reflection and compassion from individuals and a willingness for communal change.

Since his speaking event in Milwaukee is at capacity, we are considering offer a book discussion group starting in June. Would you interested in participating in a discussion group? Complete the survey below to give us guidance if this is viable and what days/times work best.

Book Discussion Survey

2. GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Registration is now open for the The Family Promise of Waukesha County 2023 Golf Outing: A Bed to Sleep In!

This event will raise funds to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness. The outing involves a scramble format. The 19th Hole follows golf and includes a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, dinner, program including a live auction. It is included in your golf package.

Tickets for the 19th Hole for individuals unable to golf will be made available soon.

GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION

We are grateful for Green Bay Packaging for being the Master Level sponsor.

Green Bay Packaging has been partnering with Family Promise of Waukesha County since 2020. In addition to sponsoring the golf outing they have been open to providing employment to families experiencing homelessness and they are a partner in the Community Shelter serving dinner and hospitality once a month.

We hope you will join us for a great day of golf, on a beautiful course, with excellent people and support an important cause. Click to learn more and/or to sign up:

GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION

3. GOOD CAUSE EVICTIONS

Recently we have experienced some prevention applicants who have been notified by their landlord that they will not be renewed. This creates a significant hardship as poor credit scores and low income negatively impact their ability to secure new housing. It is likely that they will face homelessness or have to double up and live with family or friends.

A few states have passed or are considering passing laws that govern when a landlord can legally evict or not renew a tenant. They are called Good Cause Eviction statutes because they try to limit landlords from acting on a whim. This article looks at the positives and drawbacks for such proposals. The purpose is to limit evictions or non-renewals because it almost certainly leads to homelessness. Since a record of evictions accompany a tenant wherever they apply it becomes near impossible to find housing again. The article also shares how many landlords feel burned by the housing moratorium implemented during Covid. What we have learned in our prevention program is that for rent assistance to be effective it needs to be a win for both the landlord and the tenant. When the relationship becomes adversarial it does not end well.

Whether Good Cause Eviction Laws are the right answer is not certain but it is an attempt at trying to prevent homelessness. Here are some further safeguards that could help both prevent homelessness.

Modest Proposals

Limit the percentage of increase in rent
Require landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers
Require mediation before a landlord can proceed with an eviction or nonrenewal.
Include agencies like Family Promise in the eviction process to help tenants pay their arrears so even if the relationship between tenant and landlord is irretrievably broken the tenant will not carry an eviction with them for years.

Program Statistics for Family Promise of Waukesha County year to date and for the month of April

POLL OF THE WEEK

What proposal would you support to prevent homelessness?

0%Good Cause Evictions
0%Limit the annual percentage of increase in rent
0%Require landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers
0%Require mediation for a landlord to proceed with an eviction

You can vote for more than one answer.

4. CAR REPAIR CLINIC

Learn car care basics at a free event on May 20 from 8:15am -noon at the Car Care Clinic sponsored by Crosspoint Church, Oconomowoc.

This is a free event but registration is necessary by May 15.

During the session you will learn:

How to jump start your car and battery maintenance
Change a tire
Complete under the hood inspections
Check engine light- how to check and clear codes
Check your brake pads and brake shoes
Inspect you suspension
Keep your radiator clean

5. BARK RIVER BASH

Ann Corning, a loyal and dedicated Volunteer Coordinator from Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oconomowoc will be selling plants for Mother's Day and Teacher Appreciation Day tomorrow May 6th at the Bark River Bash. Stop at Nixon Park in Hartland between 9am-2pm for the festivities and make sure to stop in and see Ann. All the proceeds from her plant sales will benefit Family Promise.

When you stop over let her know you support Family Promise of Waukesha County!

Thanks, Ann!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COURTNEY

We wish our Lead Case Manager Courtney Rutkowski a Happy Birthday! She celebrated this past Tuesday! We appreciate you and thank you for your passion for helping others. In the words of a recent client, "Courtney is amazing!"

Send Courtney a birthday wish.