APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A trio of Fox Valley non-profits are set to become one.
“The whole goal is to make things better for people who are struggling,” said Fox Valley Warming Shelter director Scott Peeples.
For years, the Fox Valley Warming Shelter, Homeless Connections and Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities in Appleton have worked with one another to provide services for the homeless.
By joining forces, Peeples tells FOX 11 they’ll be able to do that more effectively.
“What we’re trying to do is better serve people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, by bringing three organizations that already work together pretty well to help people.”
A client might come to the Warming Shelter, move onto Homeless Connections and then get into an apartment program through the Housing Partnership.
The merger lets the non-profits help people together from beginning to end.
Peeples said they’ll be able to do this by getting to the bottom of what the true needs are at the beginning of a person’s journey then, as a team, provide the necessary services.
“We’ll have a better team building…teams working more closely together to do those sorts of things, and doing more case management for the clients.”
The collaboration allows for a bigger budget, and directors said no one will lose their job in the merger.
What’s more, all services and programs meant to better the lives of those in need will continue.
“The programs…it determines whether or not we’re ready to be accepted to the real society out there, to where we’re able to be functional on our own,” client Irving Jemison said.
The biggest difference the public will notice is the new name.
The merger is expected to take place October 1.
On that day, the new name of the organization will also be revealed.
The Fox Valley Warming Shelter’s 7th Annual “Grateful Plateful” event will still be taking place this year on October 3, after the merger.
It’s one of the shelter’s largest fundraisers.
