Waukesha Co. nonprofit launches $8M "Building Hope" campaign to tackle homelessness, create temporary housing in new apartment complex

WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Family Promise of Waukesha County, a local nonprofit, is launching a multimillion-dollar campaign to tackle homelessness in the area.

The goal for "Building Hope" is to raise eight million dollars that will go toward creating 10 apartment units to provide temporary stable housing for families with minor children.

Officials said a donor transferred ownership of an old church building on Maple Ave. last June, which would be torn down so the complex could go up on its land.

"The Maple Avenue building will include two studio apartments, six two-bedroom units, and two three-bedroom units. Seven units will serve families needing immediate short-term stays, two will support families transitioning toward stability, and one will house an on-site staff member or volunteer. A community room will provide space for programs and seminars offered by community volunteers to support families as they strive to secure permanent housing," a news release said.

According to Joe Nettesheim, the organization's executive director, the number of people experiencing housing instability in the area is only increasing.

"In 2019, we averaged about 20 families a year. Last year, we helped 189 families, so over the last five, six years, we've seen about a 700% increase in the number of families that we're able to serve," Nettesheim told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White, noting that's only 28% of the families who request assistance.

With these apartments, the program capacity could go up to 50%.

"I think there's sort of a myth that in Waukesha County, we do pretty well in Waukesha County, it's one of the wealthiest counties in the state of Wisconsin, that those needs aren't here and that's just not the case," Nettesheim said. "So, we really do need this facility to be able to increase and expand the services."

Half of the campaign's money would go toward the building's construction, while the other half would cover operating costs for three years.

"They will be able to stay there up to 90 days for our temporary shelter program or for up to two years for our transitional housing program," Nettesheim said. "They'll work with a case manager, they'll look at some of the obstacles to housing that they've experienced, and we'll work on trying to get them to a place where they can find independent, stable, safe housing."

So far, 25% of the goal has been committed, but officials said there's still a long way to go.

"The ripple effects of homelessness touches every person in Waukesha County," Nettesheim said. "This is for the families who are experiencing homelessness but it's also for all of us to make sure that we have a place that is taking care of our neighbors."

If the campaign is successful, the goal is to start construction next summer, with families moving in the following year after that.