Home should be a haven. A place to belong and to build memories. But for some families, they are one missed rent or mortgage payment away from homelessness. We recognize that crises, such as home fires or a mother escaping a suddenly violent environment, can tragically lead to family homelessness that can’t be predicted or prevented.
United Way’s Safe & Stable Homes is committed in creating a community where homelessness is brief and rare, and families have the resources they need to overcome unforeseen challenges. Our results are measured in accordance with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
In 2024-25, we are funding the work of 25 programs committed to ensuring that family homelessness is prevented whenever possible, or if it can’t be prevented, it is a brief and one-time experience.
Meet the 2024-25 grantees for funding:
Advocates of Ozaukee, Inc.
Program name/purpose: Homelessness Prevention Program for Families
Program description: Supporting families from Ozaukee County with one month’s rent and/or security deposit. Case management and follow-up services will also be provided when appropriate. Funding will be in addition to existing support provided by United Way of Northern Ozaukee.
Cathedral Center
Program name/purpose: Flexible Housing – Community Case Management Program
Program description: Supports a Flexible Housing model, providing families with the amount and type of support they need to achieve stability as determined by Individualized Plans for Independence.
Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin
Program name/purpose: Waukesha Families First
Program description: Works with liaisons in each Waukesha County school district to identify families who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Caseworkers work with each family to assess their budget, connect them to resources, and provide up to three months of housing assistance with the goal of increasing the housing and educational stability of students.
Community Advocates
Program name/purpose: Eviction Prevention & Housing Stabilization for Families
Program description: Provides short-term financial assistance for families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Program name/purpose: Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center
Program description: A single physical and digital location for tenants or landlords regarding eviction prevention resources.
Dominican Center
Program name/purpose: Safe & Stable Housing in Milwaukee's Amani Neighborhood
Program description: Resource navigation, educational workshops, and financial assistance to prevent eviction or foreclosure for residents of the Amani neighborhood.
Family Promise of Ozaukee County
Program name/purpose: Family Homeless Prevention
Program description: Case management services, financial assistance, and wraparound support for families in Ozaukee and Washington counties.
Family Promise of Washington County
Program name/purpose: Family Homeless Prevention Program
Program description: Short-term case management and financial assistance to families at risk of homelessness in Washington County.
Family Promise of Waukesha County
Program name/purpose: Family Homeless Prevention Program
Program description: Long-term case management and financial assistance to Waukesha County families.
FRIENDS, Inc.
Program name/purpose: Transitional Living Program
Program description: Provides rent assistance and wraparound support to domestic violence/sexual abuse survivors in Washington County.
Guest House of Milwaukee
Program name/purpose: Family Flex Fund Community Case Management
Program description: In partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and in alignment with the Family Flex Fund, this grant will provide flexible financial assistance for community case managers.
Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County
Program name/purpose: Homeownership Program
Program description: Covers closing costs for homeowners in Habitat for Humanity's homeownership program in Waukesha County.
Hebron Housing Services
Program name/purpose: Waukesha Housing CE and System Navigation
Program description: Coordinated access to resources and supportive housing for individuals and families in Waukesha County.
Hope House of Milwaukee
Program name/purpose: Family Bonds Housing Program
Program description: Moves families off the streets immediately by housing them in an on-site shelter while working to find an apartment. While in the program, a portion of rent is covered for up to two years while families receive wraparound supportive services.
Program name/purpose: Family Flex Fund
Program description: Provides progressive tiers of financial assistance and case management for families that would otherwise be using crisis services to manage their episode of homelessness.
Impact
Program name/purpose: Waukesha Call Triage (CE Support)
Program description: Assists the Coordinated Entry process in Waukesha County by triaging calls made to the CE Lead agency, Hebron House.
Legal Action of Wisconsin
Program name/purpose: Eviction Defense Project
Program description: Pro-bono same-day legal representation for families in eviction cases in Milwaukee County. Also assists tenants in post-judgment matters.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
Program name/purpose: Housing SOS
Program description: Housing SOS attorney works withing the Rental Housing Resource Center network to assist tenants with pre-eviction filing matters such as conditions of housing and security deposits, with a goal of preventing evictions.
Metro Milwaukee Mediation Services (DBA Mediate Wisconsin)
Program name/purpose: Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program
Program description: Professional mediators deescalate tension between tenants and landlords as part of the Rental Housing Resource Center network. Serves tenants in four-county footprint.
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
Program name/purpose: Homeowner Foreclosure Prevention
Program description: Provides financial assistance to homeowners in Amani, Midtown, Park West, and Washington Park to pay delinquent property taxes and water bills. Clients participate in Habitat foreclosure prevention and financial education service programs.
My Way Out
Program name/purpose: Reentry Housing Assistance
Program description: Provides wraparound supportive case management, security deposit and up to three months of rent assistance for justice-impacted parents as they exit correctional institutions and get restabilized with their families.
Pathfinders
Program name/purpose: Family Flex Fund Community Case Management
Program description: In partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and in alignment with the Family Flex Fund, this grant will provide flexible financial assistance for community case managers.
Program name/purpose: Preventing Family Homelessness for Young Adults
Program description: Scattered-site transitional housing model that offers person-centered wraparound supportive services for youth-led households (ages 16-25) that invest in safety, positive connections, education and employment, life skills, and social-emotional wellness.
United Methodist Children’s Services of WI, Inc. (DBA Rooted & Rising)
Program name/purpose: UMCS Supportive Housing Program
Program description: Supportive housing case management and flexible financial assistance for families in Rooted & Rising housing units.
Wisconsin Veteran’s Network, Inc. (DBA VetsNet)
Program name/purpose: Housing Advocacy for Veteran Families in Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee Counties
Program description: Financial assistance for veteran-led households at risk of homelessness in Waukesha, Washington, or Ozaukee counties.
Interested in supporting Safe & Stable Homes?
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