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Housing is a human right!
Dear Friends,
As summer approaches, growth is witnessed in garden beds, young chickens and children who will spend long summer days outgrowing their shoes. For the families at Freedom House Ministries to continue to be successful, we need the housing market in our area to grow.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with some investors, who asked this very astute question: Why is homelessness on the rise? The best answer to this question sounds like this: Homelessness is a housing problem, not a people problem. For homelessness to be solved, we need to first increase the number of homes that are available for the low to moderate income levels. These families are raising the future livelihood of Green Bay and deserve an equal shot at thriving, instead of surviving the trauma of housing instability.
Housing is a human need. Humans should have a place to live, to sustain life, to raise a family or to care for oneself. Somehow, somewhere, we have lost sight of this idea that housing is a human right.
In 1996, when I rented a duplex, I was invited into my landlord’s home to sign the lease. They spent time getting to know me and asked questions about my family, my job and my dreams. They shared with me about their life and family. We built a friendly relationship, an understanding of the symbiotic relationship that would unfold as tenant and landlord. This was a simpler time, before the airbnb market boom and the large property management companies consumed the “entry level” ranch homes that are charismatic of the quaint Green Bay metropolis, we all love to live in.
In the fall of 2024, I made the decision for Freedom House Ministries to expand its footprint beyond shelter services, into the mindset of that caring landlord that I first experienced. On the west side of Green Bay, we operate a nine-unit apartment building that is home to families who need some care, growth and opportunity to gain stability. If you are reading this and know of a caring landlord or property owner that would like to join this mission of providing stability to our families, please reach out. I would be thrilled to meet you.
The families we serve at The Bridge apartments and through our shelter services, are largely dependent on housing subsidies that are designed to be a system of support during transition from homelessness to becoming housing stable. Currently, both the federal and state government budget initiatives are a part of the matrix of support that sustains our families during their initial transition and beyond. Recently, Governor’s Evers’ proposed budget has been reviewed by the Joint Finance Committee who then stripped it of everything but $5 million in support for our veterans. All the dollars he allocated for supporting families and singles in need of housing supportive services, street outreach and interventions have been removed from the proposed budget.
Meanwhile, our neighboring states have prioritized larger housing budgets, that address a broader spectrum of the population that need affordable, accessible and safe housing options. Minnesota is currently in its second year of a $2 billion budget allocation, Illinois spends $290 million dollars annually and Michigan spends $19 million. In addition to the possibility of Wisconsin’s state budget taking a hit, the rumor of Federal cuts has the potential to deliver a financial welt of $532 million, impacting programs that fund our shelters, housing programs and street outreach initiatives across the state.
Freedom House Ministries has a long history of relying on the generosity of the community, by not engaging in the politics of federal funding initiatives to offset staffing and operational costs. Today less than 5% of our revenue comes from these funding types and we are holding strong to our belief that God will continue to provide by molding generous hearts towards supporting our mission. My belief is that we were all given a voice to use, a privilege to wield and a calling to stand in the gap for those who can’t. You can help now, by reaching out to elected officials and showing support for the mission of caring for our neighbors in need.
Blessings to you and your family, from the Freedom House Families that need your support.
Jennifer Schmohe
Executive Director
Freedom House Ministries
