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Standing in the Gap: Navigating Housing Crisis & Homelessness in Brown County
Dear Friends,
Last month, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of the founders of Freedom House Ministries. Our conversation centered on the early days of the ministry — when a small group of faithful individuals saw a need in our community and chose to step into it. Their mission was simple: to help those in need, just as Jesus would.
Matthew 25:35 became the foundation of their calling, guiding both their decisions and their commitment to honor God while serving others. What began in 1991 as a four-bedroom home has since grown into something far greater.
I entered this story in 2021, shortly after the completion of our new facility, which now serves 16 households at a time. It was a season marked by the lingering effects of COVID-19, where employment, education, and housing systems were all shifting into a new reality. During that time, federal investments in housing created critical pathways for families experiencing homelessness.
As I learned more about our work, one reality became clear: nearly 80 percent of the families we served could only exit shelter with the help of a housing voucher. These vouchers, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), allowed families to stabilize by limiting rent to no more than 30 percent of their income. This support made it possible for families to work, provide for their children, and begin rebuilding their lives with dignity.
Even as recently as 2025, this system remained a critical lifeline.
Today, in 2026, the landscape has shifted dramatically — and the challenges facing our families have intensified.
As of March 16, 2026, the Brown County Housing Authority has paused the issuance of new housing vouchers due to funding limitations and overwhelming demand. While fiscally necessary, this decision significantly impacts our ability to transition families out of shelter.
At the same time, the gap between wages and housing costs continues to grow. In Brown County, a full-time worker must earn approximately $22 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent. This reality places stable housing out of reach for many of the families we serve.
Additionally, our community faces a significant shortage of available housing. Without continued investment and development, families across all income levels will feel the strain — especially those already experiencing instability.
Further compounding these challenges, critical housing support funding is at risk. The service disruption surrounding NEWCAP may result in the loss of approximately $1.6 million in resources that directly support low-income households in our region.
These are not conditions we created, nor can we control them. But what we can control is how we respond.
Since its founding, Freedom House has been rooted in a simple but powerful calling: to see a need and step into it. That same spirit guides us today. While the landscape has changed, our mission has not.
We are actively pivoting our approach to focus on helping families achieve sustainable income without relying solely on housing subsidies. This includes strengthening connections to workforce development programs and expanding access to short-term training opportunities in high-demand career fields.
We remain committed to standing in the gap, just as those early founders did 35 years ago.
We cannot do this work alone.
Your support has always been a vital part of this mission, and we are deeply grateful for the ways you continue to show up for our families and our community.
Today, we invite you to take action alongside us:
Pray
Pray for our team, the families we serve, and the leaders making critical decisions about the future of housing in our community.
Lean In and Learn
Join us on April 8th for the State of Homelessness Summit, hosted by the Brown County Homelessness and Housing Coalition. This is an opportunity to better understand the challenges we face and the collaborative solutions needed moving forward. Click here to learn more.
Volunteer
Use your unique skills to make a difference. Whether through mentorship, support services, or hands-on help, your involvement is an investment in the future of the families we serve.
Thank you for standing with Freedom House Ministries. Because of you, we continue to bring hope, stability, and restoration to families in need.
With gratitude and hope,
Jennifer Schmohe
Executive Director
Freedom House Ministries
