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This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, September 9, 2022.
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:
In honor of the NFL season beginning, how well will the Packers do this season?
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Joe and Maria provided a ride to one of our guests this week.
1. PROGRAM STATISTICS
** PREVENTION **
As of August 31, 2022,Family Promise of Waukesha County has provided prevention assistance to 46 unique households, which includes 62 adults and 96 children. These are families who would have likely lost their home without our assistance. Sometimes these households receive both rent and utility assistance. Adding families who received more than one form of assistance means the total number of households served are 62 including 82 adults and 131 children. The total funds we have distributed to date are $72,510.
The biggest challenge facing the families we serve with prevention assistance is that for many, recent increases in rent has made their current residence more expensive than they can afford. Plus there are not cheaper alternatives.
The graphs below show the breakdown of these households we have served.
** SHELTER **
As of August 31, 2022 Family Promise of Waukesha County has provided shelter to 14 households. These households consist of 20 adults and 22 children. Thus far we have provided 2955 nights of shelter. The average length of stay is 72 days.
The biggest challenge we are facing in the shelter program is helping families find new housing. The short supply of affordable housing and increased requirements about income makes it difficult for many to find housing. This is one reason the length of stay for our shelter program is growing.
2. THE HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACT
The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) is a bipartisan bill before both the House and Senate that would change how homelessness is defined. Currently the US government has two different definition of homelessness. One definition, utilized by the Department of Education, comes from the McKinney-Vento bill. A different definition is used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
HUDs definition of homelessness does not include families who are doubled up or living in a hotel. This definition limits the support and funding that is available for families in this situation. HCYA has been a legislative focus for Family Promise in recent years, as it would force HUD to recognize (and make eligible for HUD Homeless Assistance) children and youth that experience homelessness under the McKinney-Vento definition. Currently many of the families we assist do not even get counted as homeless because they came to us living in a relative after having lost their own home.
We ask you to learn more and to consider reaching out to your Representative or US Senators asking them to support and co-sponsor the current HCAY Act
POLL OF THE WEEK
Since the NFL Season starts this weekend how well will the Packers do this year?
Win the Super bowl!
Lose in the NFC Championship game...... AGAIN!
Make the playoffs and exit early
Mediocre with a 9-8 record
3. SNOW PLOWING RECOMMENDATION
Do you have a recommendation of a company that would plow our driveway, shovel sidewalks, and de-ice our property this winter?
This will be our third winter in Waukesha and we have not had the best luck with snow removal. We hope our network of friends and supporters may have a great suggestion.
4. TARGET GIFT CARDS
We are close to running out of Target gift cards.
If you would like to donate some gift cards, we appreciate all donations. However, the easiest denominations to use are $10 and $25 gift cards.
Donations can be dropped off at the Day Center or if you choose to mail them, please package them well so they do not get caught in the post office sorting machines.
5. NIGHT WITHOUT A BED
Many do not believe there are families experiencing homelessness in Waukesha County. Many experiencing homelessness want to keep it hidden in our affluent county. Many struggle in silence or alone. On any given night 20 families might be staying in a shelter. Others, often uncounted, are in a hotel, their car or doubled up with friends or family. A Night Without A Bed which will be held on October 22 is an opportunity to help others know that family homelessness is a real issue in Waukesha County. Through this event individuals will forego sleeping in their own bed and instead sleep in their car, a tent or the floor of their house- just like many of the families we serve.
OFFICE HOURS
The week of September 19-22 we will have different office hours. Please make a note of the following:
September 19 9am- 3pm
September 20 9am- 2pm
September 21 9am- 3pm
September 22 9am- 3pm
September 23 9am- 3pm
It is always wise to call ahead before stopping in.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Here are some upcoming dates we want you to be aware of:
September 18 Callie Birthday! 🎉 🥳 🎈
September 19 Board of Trustees Meeting
September 19 Unconscious Bias with Judge Derek Mosely
September 19-23 National Symposium
Joe, Courtney and Maria participate in the Family Promise national symposium. There will be limited office hours that week. Please call ahead before stopping by the office.
September 25 Brat House at Piggly Wiggly
October 9 Joe speaks at First Congregational UCC, Oconomowoc
October 16-23 Family Promise Week
Family Promise week will be held the week of October 16-23. This week celebrates the anniversary of the founding of Family Promise and the assistance it has provided families experiencing homelessness since 1986.
October 22 A Night Without a Bed
Raise awareness about family homelessness and the chaos it creates by participating in a Night Without A Bed. Sleep in your car, a tent or the floor and post on social media so others learn about families experiencing homelessness.
October 30 Joe speaks at St. Therese, Eagle
Connect with our staff to answer any questions you may have.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. JUST CLICK THE ICONS BELOW.
You can also join our Facebook volunteer group to learn about volunteer opportunities.
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