In This Article
Dear Friends,
Homelessness is hard.
It is not kind. It is not patient and it does not solve itself. The solution to homelessness for a single mom takes grit, vulnerability, and access to resources that can support a transition into stability. At Freedom House Ministries, it is our role to help parents, especially single mothers, examine their specific circumstances, navigate available resources, and move toward stability. In that process, mothers examine their past choices, formulate new behaviors, and cultivate positive thoughts that translate into action to move forward.
On July 22-23, the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition will conduct an overnight street count (called Point In Time Count) to identify those who are living in places not made for habitation. This is part of a national initiative that asks communities to capture the increase or decrease in the homeless population. The members of the Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition will be responsible for coordinating volunteers into teams who will canvas sections of Brown County looking for men, women and children living on the street. In order to do this well, it will require over 90 people during the hours of 11:30 pm to 5:00 am to accurately cover the geography of our area.
This street count activity is conducted in January and July of each year and results in a set of data that is ultimately submitted to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In July of 2025, the total number of humans living on the street in our community was 187 and in January of 2026, a total of 63 humans were identified as sleeping on the street. Brown County has seen this number continue to climb in the last five years. It is important to reflect on the conditions present that may cause these numbers to continue to increase before jumping to a conclusion that the homeless services system is failing people.
In a community of our size, comprised of both rural and urban challenges, the common thread of housing availability, affordability and accessibility still remains. According to a 2025 housing study of the Green Bay housing market approximately 10,000 housing units are missing from the community! Some of the reasons include years of slowed housing construction post-covid and the rising trend of aging in place in the growing elderly population. Due to these conditions, the affordability of housing that remains, allows landlords to charge a premium and make affordable housing out of reach for those on a single income. These kinds of conditions often require renters to forgo basic needs, in order to make the next rent payment.
Despite these conditions, we continue to pivot and evolve our scope of services to be more individualized and supportive of the unique situations that each household composition brings. We know each story is unique and therefore requires a nimble approach to service delivery, not a one-size fits all approach. This approach, combined with strategic collaborations with other family based support systems nestled in our community will lead to a more stable exit from shelter. If we only focused on the internal supports and neglected to be engaged in community based advocacy work, like the Point in Time count, our valuable voice of experience and care would not be heard. This desire to find solutions in our community out of care for others, is what called us to step into a leadership position within the community to collaboratively own the execution of the Point in Time Street Count this month.
Despite these conditions, Freedom House Ministries continues to adapt. We are constantly evaluating our programming because we know homelessness is not solved by simply providing a bed for the night. Every family that walks through our doors brings a different story, different barriers, and different strengths. That reality requires us to continually evolve our services, strengthen partnerships with organizations across our community, and individualize our approach so that families leave shelter with the greatest opportunity for lasting stability, not simply temporary housing.
We cannot ignore the realities facing the families we serve. Imagine being a single mother working full-time, looking at your paycheck and realizing you can either pay the rent or buy groceries—but not both. Maybe the car needs repairs so you can get to work. Maybe your child has outgrown their shoes. Maybe the utility bill is due. These are not failures of character; they are the impossible choices created when housing becomes unattainable. According to the 2025 Green Bay Housing Market Study, our community is missing approximately 10,000 housing units across the market, creating a shortage that continues to drive up housing costs and reduce affordable options for working families. When families are forced to make impossible financial decisions month after month, housing instability becomes an outcome—not a choice.
That is why Freedom House Ministries believes our responsibility extends beyond the walls of our shelter. While we are committed to helping families rebuild their lives through individualized programming, coaching, and supportive services, we also have a responsibility to advocate for solutions that address the conditions contributing to homelessness in Brown County. Our leadership in the Point-in-Time Street Count is one example of that commitment. If we only focused on what happens inside our doors and neglected the work of community advocacy, we would miss the opportunity to help shape lasting solutions for the families we serve.
On July 22, our community has an opportunity to do exactly that. The Point-in-Time Street Count will require more than 90 volunteers willing to spend one night helping ensure every person experiencing homelessness is seen and counted. I would be honored if you would join me. During our most recent planning meeting, I learned that Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez will be participating in this year’s count. Her presence sends a powerful message that this issue deserves attention at every level of leadership. Imagine the message we could send if she were met by hundreds of local residents who also chose to show up.
Loving your city is more than taking pride in where you live. It means caring for the people who live here, even those whose struggles are easy to overlook. It means recognizing that homelessness is not someone else’s problem but our shared responsibility. It means believing that every child deserves a safe place to sleep, every parent deserves the opportunity to rebuild, and every neighbor deserves to be seen.
If you have ever wondered how you can make a difference, this is your invitation. Give one night. Give a few hours. Stand beside Freedom House Ministries and our community partners as we advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors. Because the way we love our city is not measured by the buildings we construct or the events we celebrate. It is measured by whether we choose to see, serve, and stand with those who need us most.
With gratitude and hope,
Jennifer Schmohe
Executive Director
Freedom House Ministries
