ESTHER INC

ESTHER RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEATH SERVICES AS PART OF A MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES FOR A JUST RESPONSE GRANT. WE USED THIS MONEY FOR EIGHT HOUSING ADVOCATES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO LEAD OUR HOMELESSNESS EFFORTS. THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED, STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING INSECURITY, YOUNG ADULTS, IMMIGRANTS, INDIVIDUALS FROM THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY AND THE FORMERLY EVICTED. THEY ARE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR WORK, WHICH IS COLLABORATING WITH THEIR PEERS ABOUT HOUSING INSECURITY ISSUES, AND THEN MEETING REGULARLY AS A TEAM FOR DEBRIEFING AND TRAINING. MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND HAVE WRITTEN ARTICLES FOR THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. THEY HAVE ORGANIZED THEMSELVES INTO A HOUSING ADVOCATE TEAM AND HAVE TAKEN ON THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THEM. THEY WANT TO SEE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT THEM (THEIR SELF-INTERESTS) AND THOSE WHOM THEY CARE ABOUT.OUR HOUSING ADVOCATES IN OSHKOSH ARE VERY ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. THEY ARE COLLECTING PERSONAL STORIES FROM THOSE IMPACTED BY INACCESSIBLE HOUSING. THEY COLLECT STORIES FROM PEOPLE AT FOOD PANTRIES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, LONG-TERM HOTELS AND THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY. THOSE STORIES WILL BE THE BASIS OF THEIR ORGANIZING WORK AS THEY CONTINUE IN THEIR ADVOCACY WORK. THE GRANT CONCLUDED IN MAY, 2024.

THE VOLUNTEERS FOR CIRCLES OF SUPPORT WORK WITH RETURNING CITIZENS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THEY MEET WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS AND OFFER THEM SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS THEY REINTEGRATE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. CIRCLES OF SUPPORT WILL ON OCCASION HELP OUT WITH ACUTE FINANCIAL NEEDS BUT FOR THE MOST PART IS THERE AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM.