A collaborative effort to give homeless Oshkosh families a safe shelter and fresh start will open its doors to 8 families in the New Year.
The Oshkosh Kids Foundation (OKF) has teamed up with 17 local community partners to introduce the Tiny House Village - Jake’s Network of Hope is thrilled to be one of these community partners!
The Tiny House Village provides affordable, short-term housing for families while they learn life, financial, and home management skills. Jake’s is providing goods to furnish each home - such as bedding, small kitchen equipment, dining ware, bathroom needs, and so forth - a partnership that has greatly helped reduce the project’s growing budget - according to Julie D., Co-Founder, and Executive Director of OKF.
“We love Jakes, we’re super excited about the group staging our houses - all the items that Jake’s is providing are going to make it a home,” she said.
As of early December, the village’s community center is complete and ready for the organization to start furnishing and “moving in.” The first couple of houses are expected to be move-in ready in the next couple weeks, with doors opening to 8 families just after the New Year, Julie said.
Families are referred by school social workers, Winnebago County social workers and the Christine Anne Center. The families who are ultimately selected for the program are those who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness and are also working hard to overcome their situation. The Tiny Homes village goal is to give these families time to get back on their feet and re-establish financial security while offering a fresh start.
There are 100 families on a waitlist for programs that could ultimately refer to the Tiny Homes, showcasing just how desperate the need in the area is; Jule said the group hopes to have 16 homes available by the end of January and 32 by the end of June. The homes use solar power panels to reduce tenant costs, and the village will provide internet; the only utility residents will pay is water.
“These people, we’re getting them stabilized and then giving them hope and dignity and excitement about a brand new house with brand new stuff - and they can start over,” Julie said. The organization will provide each family a picture frame with a family photo upon move in.
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Bridges United was founded in 2022 with the mission to empower individuals and communities by providing safe and inclusive environments that promote self-determination, resilience, wellness, and a sense of community using a person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach. We believe crisis can be a catalyst for change and that it is never too late to break the cycle of hospitalization, incarceration, and homelessness.
The organization is focused on providing a safe space for anyone experiencing a crisis to seek support or resources in our homelike environment. Our shared vision for every person to be a step up toward living healthy, feeling safe and experiencing self-worth so that individuals and communities thrive made our partnership thrive from day one.
“These items help people know we see them as more than just guests, they are worthy,” shared Bridges United Executive Director, Patrick E. regarding the core hygiene products Bridges United receives from Jake’s Network of Hope.
Bridges United has been able to source core products like shampoo, toothpaste, and soap to provide individuals coming for support in crisis the basic hygiene products they need to feel seen, supported, and cared for.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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There is a saying that ‘when a child is born, a parent is born, too. No one is born an expert in childcare, it is a skill learned with time and practice. Education for new and young parents can play an essential role in the family’s success. The Family Services Parent Connection of Northeast Wisconsin (N.E.W.) is on a mission to create this for regional families.
Parent Connection partners with families to help prevent child abuse and neglect and promote school readiness. The organization’s programs aim to help parents have the tools to do this important work through the agency’s mission to protect, heal and care.
In Wisconsin, one in six children live in extreme poverty, making it hard for young families to afford basic diapering needs. Jake’s Network of Hope and Parent Connection have partnered to ensure families have the diapers and other basic needs they require for health, safety, and dignity,
“Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher,” said Kelly of Parent Connection. “(From Jake’s, we use) diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products. These items are expensive, and being able to help provide these to families allows them to spend their money on other necessities.”
Parent Connection is also a frequent visitor of Jake’s Hope Hub to fulfill other needs they have as an organization. What is so great about this resource center?
“The array of treasures you find!” Kelly said. “We purchase many safety proofing items and baby items at a fraction of the costs, which allows us to assist clients with other goals they may have. I also love that you can sign up online for a shopping spot.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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Jake’s partners with many regional food pantries in order to enhance efforts and resources available to people in need. Partnering with pantries is a great way to get many basic needs items in one spot for individuals using this type of service.
Kingdom Come of Oconto County is one of those partners, and we have been working together for several years. During the pandemic, Jake’s was able to provide a large percentage of the pantry’s goods for its people in need.
Belinda of the pantry said recently many families are finding out about the diapers and adult incontinence products, and we are blessed to provide these to individuals in need in the Oconto area. Recent reductions in other resources as well as area pantry closures are impacting area residents, she said.
“The closure of local NEWCAP food pantries, the ending of max Covid SNAP benefits and the end of CARES act rental evictions protections have negatively affected our clients,” she said, also citing high gas prices (many clients commute 80 miles a day for work) and increasing inflation are also taking its toll.
Jake’s is happy to continue this ongoing service to individuals in need in partnership with Kingdom Come and other area food pantries. Donate today to provide daily living essentials to families during the holiday season. On our donation page, you can choose a category to ensure your gift goes towards projects aligned with your personal interests, mission or passion.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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The holiday season is an especially difficult time for individuals struggling financially, and we believe that no one should go without basic needs during this time - restoring a sense of self-worth during this should-be celebratory time.
For more than 70 years, Goodfellows of Clintonville has been working to ensure there is “No family without a Christmas in the Clintonville and Marion school districts.”
The Goodfellows of Clintonville and Marion, through an Annual Holiday Distribution, provide food vouchers, winter coats, boots, blankets, personal care items, and toys for the children and families in need in their communities.
The drive begins in early November, when volunteers begin collecting the names of potential recipients. Local churches, service organizations and businesses have contributed everything from toys, mittens and caps to blankets and comforters, with every item contributed, finding a good home.
Many of the same organizations have provided countless volunteer hours towards making the annual event a success by their assistance during distribution week.
In 2020, Goodfellows of Clintonville partnered with Jake’s Network of Hope to help stretch their dollars to get the items needed to support their families.
“I love that we can find many of the items our families need in one place. I love that the people that work at Jake’s have such an abundance of hope and compassion,” Mari, Goodfellows of Clintonville and Marion.
Goodfellows of Clintonville utilizes Jake’s Hope Hub to purchase many of the basic toiletries items including; diapers and wipes for nearly 1,000 families with children in the home during the holiday season.
“Basic personal hygiene can go a long way to positive self image. That can only help families struggling to take a step forward,” Mari, Goodfellows of Clintonville and Marion.
Thank you for your support of our programs during 2022. Your ongoing gifts continue to create amazing change for all those we partner with and serve across the globe.
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