Safe & Stable Homes uses the Collective Impact model outlined by the Stanford Social Innovation Review. This prioritizes a shared understanding of the issue across all stakeholders, data sharing, mutually reinforming strategies across sectors and continuous communication facilitated by United Way as the backbone of coordination. 

Eviction Defense Project (EDP)  
Legal Action of Wisconsin's Eviction Defense Project provides free, same-day legal representation for families in eviction cases in Milwaukee small claims court. In addition to same-day legal representation, the EDP can provide advice to tenants, as well as assist tenants with post-judgement matters, such as motions to clarify CCAP records. EDP has been able to seal dismissed cases almost ten times as often as unrepresented tenants. EDP works in concert with other housing service providers by accepting referrals for clients with same-day representation when they otherwise have not secured extended representation before their case. With the help of attorneys and students across Milwaukee County who volunteer their time pro bono, the EDP is able to help anywhere from six to 12 otherwise unrepresented families facing eviction per day. 

Eviction Free MKE (EFM)
EFM provides pro-bono extended legal representation for families in eviction cases in Milwaukee County small claims court. Eligible tenants must be from Milwaukee County and have incomes at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. 

Mediate WI Tenant/Landlord Mediation 
In this program, professional mediators de-escalate tension between tenants and landlords, help them find common interests or goals, connect with available financial and supportive services, and craft an individualized solution that makes sense to both parties. This grant serves households across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee counties and closely collaborates with the Rental Housing Resource Center. 

Family Flex Fund 
Provides tiered case management and flexible financial aid for families that would otherwise be using crisis services to prevent an episode of homelessness. 

Rent, Utility, and Flexible Assistance  
Various programs provide specific (delinquent property tax, utility bill, etc.) or flexible financial assistance to clients with unique eligibility for each program. For example, parents returning from incarceration or veteran-led families.  

Community Case Management (CCM) 
In partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, CCM programs provide flexible financial assistance for community case managers covering security deposits, first month’s rent, monthly bus passes, moving expenses, move-in supplies, and food-related gift cards. Flexible funds allow case managers to provide their clients with the amount and type of support they need to achieve stability as determined by Individualized Plans for Independence. 

School-Based Housing Case Management 
The School-Based Housing Case Management program is run in partnership with the Siemer Institute for Family Stability. Students with frequent school mobility have a challenging time focusing on education. Housing case managers work with Milwaukee Public Schools to identify students that frequently change schools due to housing insecurity. Housing case managers then wrap those students’ families with supportive services, including rent assistance and case management. The goal is to stabilize a student in one school throughout the school year, so they can focus on their education and not where they are going to sleep that night. In 2023, this program was expanded to begin serving housing unstable students and their families in the City of Waukesha.  

Wraparound Supportive Services 
Once families move from homelessness back into their own home, optional wraparound supportive services are offered by multiple organizations, typically for 12-months, to help ensure families do not re-experience homelessness because underlying needs weren’t met.  

Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center
The Rental Housing Resource Center (RHRC) is a single physical and digital location for tenants or landlords looking for eviction prevention resources. RHRC is a collaboration of nine organizations: Apartment Association of Southeastern WI, Community Advocates, IMPACT, Hope House, Legal Action, Legal Aid Society, Mediate Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee Dept. of Neighborhood Services, and the Milwaukee County Housing Division. Safe & Stable Homes helps cover the cost of the physical location, website, outreach materials, and one full-time Triage Specialist. 

IMPACT 211 
Residents in any community can call the 2-1-1 referral line to talk with a representative who can identify which community resource, out of a detailed listing of resources, fits the caller’s health & human service needs. 

EvictionFreeMKE provides no-cost attorneys for low-income tenants facing eviction. Every week, local canvassers knock on the doors of about 100 homes that appear on a weekly eviction filing list to share program information. Over 7,000 local households have received legal aid in their eviction case (Nov 2021-2023). Legal representation rose from about 3% of tenants to about a quarter of all evictions filed. An independent evaluation of the first 18 months of the program found an economic benefit to Milwaukee County of between $9 million and $9.3 million through deferred crisis services from prevented evictions.

This program connects tiers of flexible financial assistance and case management to families that would otherwise be using crisis services to avoid homelessness. Since 2021, over 235 families have ended their experience of homelessness through the Family Flex Fund. Over 99% of these families have remained stable once housed. 

Funded the establishment and maintenance of the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center. In partnership with SDC, the center has distributed $173 million to over 20,000 households, connecting tenants and landlords to eviction prevention resources. 

Our school system’s Homeless Education Program connects housing case managers to the families of students at risk of homelessness. Since 2020, over 4,000 family members have been served, preventing disruptive school moves for 95% of students and increasing the income of 43% of parents. 

Unsheltered families in Milwaukee County have dropped from an average of 4 per night in the decade leading up to Safe & Stable Homes to 0 families since the initiative’s first investments (2020-2022 HUD Point in Time data).    

The average number of days a family experiences homelessness decreased by 48% and the maximum length of time that families spend in emergency shelter decreased by 72%. (ICA, Homeless Management Information System data and partner data reports, 7/2021-10/2022) 

Ozaukee County has optimized family identification through a network of referral partners. Coordination between shelters ensures no family is turned away without a safe alternative. 

Programs focused on preventing homelessness have led to a 65% decrease in families experiencing homelessness since 2020. (ICA, Homeless Management Information System data 2020-2023) 

Families now connect to housing within 48 days on average, a 75% decrease since 2020. (ICA, Homeless Management Information System data 2020-2023) 

Seven families experienced homelessness on any given night in Washington County last year. Safe & Stable Homes has been able to support housing options in our Germantown footprint for:   

• Families fleeing domestic violence through FRIENDS Inc.   
• Case management through Lutheran Social Services. 
• Rent assistance through Family Promise of Ozaukee County.  
• Tenant/landlord mediation through Mediate WI, and housing security support for families led by our military veterans through VetsNet.   

Collaboration with service providers and researchers aims to achieve benchmark goals. 95 Washington County residents accessed Safe & Stable Homes programs last year to maintain housing stability. 

The expansion of the winter warming room building by Family Promise of Waukesha has provided more shelter beds for families transitioning to homes. 

Regular meetings among family-serving agencies have improved USICH benchmark goal achievement in 2023 and strategic planning for 2024.  

Improved data collection and Coordinated Entry, along with enhanced programs for marginalized populations, helps us match families to the right resources at the right times. One example is the Youth Rapid Rehousing Grant through Hebron Housing Services, which has ended homelessness for families led by young adults. Another example is the United Way funded School-based Homelessness Prevention Program.