Oct 6, 20234 min read

FRIDAY FIVE : URGENT NEED FOR GROCERY GIFT CARDS

This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, October 6, 2023.

The Friday Five is a weekly update that focuses on the 5 main things happening at Family Promise Waukesha County. This communication should update, inform and advocate for families who are financially vulnerable.

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:

DO YOU KNOW ANY LANDLORDS?
GROCERY GIFT CARDS IN DEMAND
NOW HIRING: SHELTER ADVOCATES
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
BE A VISIONARY

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

We celebrated fall at the Community Shelter by carving pumpkins and an art project; we visited with Z and her daughter as we look to highlight her story for the end of year appeal; Joe and Fr. Joel Prather from St. Bart's met to catch up on recent FP developments.

POLL OF THE WEEK

I plan to volunteer and help with the Winter Overflow Shelter.

1. DO YOU KNOW ANY LANDLORDS?

Families in shelter program find it challenging to find housing

We need the Family Promise of Waukesha County network to work your magic to assist families currently in the Community Shelter. The Community Shelter is scheduled to close on October 27. Our number one priority is to make sure current families are able to exit to a home. Most of the families have a form of rent assistance which will ensure that they are able to pay the rent.

Unfortunately a couple families have been unable to find landlords willing to accept the voucher. Recently one landlord told a case manager that they need a security deposit three times the amount of the monthly rent. As you can imagine, three times the monthly rent is not realistic for families who are financially vulnerable. If you know of a landlord who would be willing to work with these families please contact Courtney

2. URGENT NEED FOR GROCERY GIFT CARDS

Grocery gift card supply is completely gone

We have an urgent need for grocery gift cards as we have used our supply. What is most helpful are gift cards to Pick N Save in denominations of $10, $25 and $50 each. Grocery gift cards are used for families in all of our programs. Examples of how they are used:

Buy eggs and milk for families in the Community Shelter
Temporarily supplement the income of families who do not receive food share
Assist families in the prevention program that have temporarily lost income

If you are able to help with a gift card, please mail them to Family Promise of Waukesha County, PO Box 66, Waukesha, WI 53187 using a padded envelope, or drop them off at the Day Center 139 E North Street Waukesha WI 53188. Our hours of operation are 8:30-4:30pm. Please call if you need an alternate time to drop off.

3. NOW HIRING SHELTER ADVOCATES

Family Promise and Hebron Housing Services to collaborate on this winter project

We are excited to share with you that Family Promise of Waukesha County and Hebron Housing Services have been selected to manage the Winter Emergency Overflow Shelter for Waukesha County. This is another positive step forward for Family Promise of Waukesha County as we continue to expand our ability to serve families experiencing homelessness. Being able to partner with Hebron Housing Services will only strengthen our services. While this is a joint effort to maximize the strengths of both organizations, Family Promise will provide case management to families with minor children while Hebron Housing Services will focus on single adults.

This also means that we will be hiring additional shelter advocates. A shelter advocate will manage the emergency overflow.

The Shelter Advocate should be a person who is:

● a leader

● able to manage confrontational situations

● compassionate and an active listener

● organized

● able to maintain clear and consistent boundaries

● able to protect confidentiality

● willing to follow through on expectations of families and volunteers

● able to problem solve

● ethical

● possesses a client first mentality

If interested in being part of this opportunity to assist households experiencing homelessness please submit cover letter and resume to info@familypromisewaukeshawi.org

POLL OF THE WEEK

I plan to help with the Winter Shelter

Yes!
It will not work for me this time.

4. SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT

United Way sponsoring event at Carroll University

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. PHC services typically include health screenings, dental and vision exams, haircuts, resource fair, and take-away hygiene & cold weather items.

One way to get involved is to help Family Promise provide a shuttle for those unable to drive. Using our vans, you would pick people up at a few locations and transport them to Carroll University. Volunteer drivers would need to go through the Family Promise online training and be open to a driving background check.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer driver contact Joe Nettesheim

Or volunteer directly for the event:

https://unitedwaygmwc.org/Project-Homeless-Connect

LEARN MORE

5. BE A VISIONARY

Join the Fund Development or Program Committee and play a key role in helping shape the future of Family Promise of Waukesha County. We are seeking individuals with a commitment to ending family homelessness, compassion for families who are vulnerable and a willingness to give of their time to a collaborative effort to increase the impact of our services.

Fund Development Committee

Work with the Executive Director in developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to develop financial and other resources which empower the organization to achieve its mission serving families experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Program Committee

Review, assess, develop and implement services to serve families and single women who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.