Waukesha Nonprofit For Homeless Requests Temporary Housing Unit

WAUKESHA, WI—Due to COVID-19, finding spaces for homeless families to stay overnight has become a challenge.

A nonprofit organization that assists homeless children and their families in Waukesha County is requesting to add a temporary residential unit in its building. The owner of Family Promise is proposing the request for the building at 139 E. North Street.

Family Promise of Waukesha County provides a cost-effective and sustainable way to offer hospitality, providing shelter, meals, and support services for homeless children and their families while transitioning them into stable housing.

The Waukesha Plan Commission will consider the recommendation and hold a public hearing at the meeting on Wednesday.

'The need remains'

The Family Promise Day Center was previously approved at the June 24, 2020 Plan Commission meeting as a Conditional Use, according to city documents.

The day center is used as a resource center for low-income families and families experiencing homelessness. They provide workshops, caseworkers, and other activities to help keep families in their own homes. Staff is looking to use the second floor for residential purposes, in addition to the first-floor offices and day center.

Office hours Sunday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the second-floor residential units being 24/7.

Due to COVID-19, finding spaces for families to stay overnight has become more of a challenge. The proposal means there would be no more than one family at a time to live on the second floor and have their own sleeping space and bathroom. The second floor would have three bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, and washer and dryer.

This may be a temporary arrangement until they can return to using churches as an overnight option, however, they would like to have the option of having a family stay in the facility periodically even after the pandemic ends.

"Utilizing Congregations and their volunteers is simply not a viable option now. Yet the need remains," the documents said.

How they serve families

The Family Resource Center is not a drop-in center. It is designed to only serve families who are in the program.

The capacity is four families or fourteen individuals. For those families, the Resource Center provides guests a home base during the day.

Families utilize the resource center for showers, washing and drying clothes, storing personal effects, a mailing address, and phone number. Clients meet with the center's case manager who works with them to create a plan and identify ways to meet their individualized goals.

Family Promise of Waukesha County purchased the facility on 139 E. North Street in Waukesha July 31, 2020. Due to the pandemic most of the case management services have been offered virtually.

In Dec. 2020 the organization began providing family shelter in an apartment.

"It is our request to use the second floor of this facility as a residential space. This presents a significant opportunity for Family Promise to maximize its potential in assisting Waukesha County families to regain and retain their independence," according to city documents.

The Waukesha Plan Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

For more information on Family Promise, visit the website.