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Housing

ESTHER: Celebrating 20 Years!

Justice, Hope and Action


Events we're highlighting as part of our twentieth anniversary

Workforce Housing Task Force:

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Below are actions and events that move us toward our goal of increased affordable workforce housing in the greater Fox Valley.  This task force's goal is to ensure that the Fox Valley has enough housing within the reach of working families.  The concept for workforce housing is simple: If you work in a community, you should be able to afford to live in that community.  Unless otherwise noted, events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Kathy Groat.

Video: Workforce Housing in the Fox Valley - by ESTHER

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This video describes workforce housing and the need for additional affordable homes for working families in the Fox Valley. Production was made possible through ESTHER, the Fox Cities Housing Coalition, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Veridian Development.

ESTHER receives grant to focus on Workforce Housing

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Story title: Foreclosed and vacant homes to get new life

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HOMEOWNERSHIP?

ESTHER may be able to help you purchase the right home for your family at an affordable monthly price. You could take advantage of this program to buy a home for your family at a price you can afford.

Attend this informational session:
Date:   Monday, July 13
Time:  6:30 PM
Location: First English Lutheran Church, 326 East North Street, Appleton

Click here for a flyer for the up-coming event.

Challenges of Finding Affordable Housing

The apartment with the bathroom sink in the hallway and the refrigerator in the living room was the final straw. My Dad said, "The rent and deposit are equal to a down payment on a house and the mortgage payments will be cheaper, too." And so we went looking for a house under $40,000.

My husband and I were both young and strong. We had experience with demolition, hard work and we had a friend who was a house inspector. We should have had an easy time.

There was the one with a basement wall on crutches. The one less than five feet from the railroad tracks. The one where a heavy smoker had left the walls brown and sticky.

We persisted. The realtor said, "This one has a note that the garage needs to be knocked down." We got there before the realtor. We said, “We can get that down in minutes."

She sighed, "That's the house."

At the next one I said, "How did that motorcycle get on a second floor balcony?"

Her reply? "The police were supposed to evict them."

When we found one that only needed a new roof and furnace, we thought it was perfect. A one and half bedroom house with five rooms. And when we talked to the neighbors we found that it had been rented to a family of six and the landlord kicked them out because he wanted to sell.

The three of us would be living there now except for the house that came up for auction when I was pregnant, which we grabbed while we could.

Joyce Frohn

Member of the Oshkosh ESTHER Task Force

Film Screening: The Invisible Class

Date: 
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 - 6:00pm
Location: 
First Congregational Church, 137 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh

Casa Esther Catholic Worker, ESTHER, Trinity Episcopal Church Oshkosh, and
First Congregational Church Oshkosh present
a screening of The Invisible Class.

The Invisible Class - Documentary FilmThis powerful film is about homelessness all across America, its criminalization and the devastating impacts of the loss of affordable housing. Mass homelessness in the United States didn’t always exist, so how did we get to where we are today?

The screening is free and open to the public. Cash and material donations will be collected (see more below).

Doors open at 5:30.

Talkback and refreshments to follow.

Northeast Wisconsin Housing Policy Institute

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Date: 
Friday, April 12, 2024 - 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: 
UWO Fox Cities Campus, Midway Road, Menasha

A regional housing policy training for people who have experienced housing challenges (including eviction, unaffordable housing and homelessness) in Northeast Wisconsin. Learn how local and state decisions have caused how we experience housing and what we can do to advocate for change. Connect with other advocates and know that you’re not alone.

Participants are asked to attend both days of this two-day event.

Scan QR code or click on image below to register.

Registration deadline: April 1, 2024

Contact: Lynnsey Erickson lerickson@winnebagocountywi.gov (920) 252-5928

Help spread the word! Download and share the attached flier.

Northeast Wisconsin Housing Policy Institute

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Date: 
Saturday, April 13, 2024 - 9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: 
UWO Fox Cities Campus, Midway Road, Menasha

Two-day Housing Policy Institute: April 12-13, 2024

A regional housing policy training for people who have experienced housing challenges (including eviction, unaffordable housing and homelessness) in Northeast Wisconsin. Learn how local and state decisions have caused how we experience housing and what we can do to advocate for change. Connect with other advocates and know that you’re not alone.

Participants are asked to attend both days of this two-day event.

Scan QR code or click on image below to register.

Registration deadline: April 1, 2024

Contact: Lynnsey Erickson lerickson@winnebagocountywi.gov (920) 252-5928

Help spread the word! Download and share the attached flier.

Housing Conversations to Inspire Change: Fox Valley Speaks

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You are Invited!

Fox Valley Speaks: Housing Conversations to Inspire Change

Share, listen, and connect in small groups about diverse experiences and unique perspectives around homelessness in our community.

In partnership with Common Ground, Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities, and the City of Appleton

5 available dates from April 24 thru June 13 • 2 hours • ages 14+ • free to attend

Questions? Email foxvalleyspeaks@gmail.com


Help spread the word! Download and share the attached flier.

Film Showing: “The Invisible Class”

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Date: 
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - 6:00pm
Location: 
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 724 E. South River St, Appleton

On May 7, ESTHER and First Congregational UCC of Appleton will offer a public showing of “The Invisible Class,” a documentary about homelessness all acoss America, its criminalization, and the devastating impacts of the loss of affordable housing.

Doors open at 5:30 pm, Film showing 6:00 pm
Q&A with panelists will follow.

The film explores what it truly means to be homeless in America, challenging stereotypes and examining the systemic causes of mass homelessness in the wealthiest nation in the world. The film contains strong, potentially offensive language; not recommended for young viewers.

Mass homelessness in the United States didn’t always exist, so how did we get to where we are today? What are the root causes? What should we know about homelessness in the Fox Valley region? What is being done to address it?

View Trailer on YouTube.

Help spread the word—download and share the attached flier!

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