Ecumenical Partnership for Housing

It's an exciting time at the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, as we make a major community drive to expand our capabilities to help homeless Brown County families with children. In 1992, four local churches had the vision and determination to start a program for homeless families in the Green Bay area. Now, after ten years, EPH can proudly report that more than 135 families, including 300 children, have been housed in our homes in our first decade of service.

Who we are...

We are landlords. EPH has owned three properties with a total of seven apartment units, providing rent-free housing to eligible families with children.

We are a non-profit organization. EPH is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by donations, support from member churches, and The Salvation Army.

We are a local organization. EPH is run by a board of directors who represent eight Green Bay area congregations: First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Resurrection Catholic Church, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, Union Congregational Church and First United Presbyterian Church of De Pere.

We are partners with The Salvation Army of Green Bay. EPH is responsible for expenses and upkeep of the properties. The Salvation Army screens and places families in our homes, and acts as liaison to social services, including assistance with job placement, childcare, money management and relocation.

We are advocates for the children in our homes. The children of our tenant families are of paramount concern to us. Events that lead to homelessness for children are typically not of their making or in their control. By housing families with children, EPH has the opportunity to provide for their welfare, safety, stability and educational continuity. Our homes are in close proximity to elementary schools with family resource center programs.

We are looking to make a difference. We provide a home, with privacy and dignity, for families in need, but our goal is not just offering temporary living quarters. With the help of The Salvation Army and other resources, EPH improves our families' well-being in many ways. We encourage our families to move upward from EPH homes to better circumstances - with job skills, experience in running a household, permanent housing, a stable environment for children, and increased self-esteem. We emphasize the family as a whole and strive to keep it functional and intact. From the first night in an EPH home, when we provide a hot meal, to the move-out day, we want our families to know someone cares.
More needs to be done

While we're proud of our first decade of success, many challenges remain for us and for homeless families in our area. Although demands for housing of homeless families with children in Brown County remains high, options for these families have dwindled. Crossroads shelter has closed, and NEW Community Shelter no longer accepts families. The Salvation Army of Green Bay tells us that the waiting list has comprised at least five, and often ten, eligible families throughout 2002. Nearly once a week, another homeless local family with children could be offered an EPH home, if we only had the space.

Friends of EPH have generously given funds, labor and materials though the years, but we need to raise $120,000 now to purchase another home and continue our mission to our community's homeless families. So far, nearly $73,000 has been pledged.

How can you help?

Please consider a gift to the EPH Operating Fund. If you would like to join us at EPH as a volunteer or board member, please call the church office. You can also call your church's EPH board members, Corday Goddard, Diane Betz or Nancy Tomcek if you would like more information.

Your time, talent and financial commitment are greatly appreciated! Contributions are tax-deductible and stay in Brown County. Your support allows us to continue toward the overriding goal of EPH: for homeless families to remain whole, to know someone cares, to have hope for their future, and to be better equipped to function independently in the community. Thank you!

Click here for a form. Please send your tax-deductible donation, payable to EPH, to:

Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, Inc.
c/o Greater Green Bay Community Foundation
302 N. Adams Street, Suite 100
Green Bay, WI 54301

How else can you help?

As faith calls us to minister to our neighbors, so too does Ecumenical Partnership for Housing seek to respond to families in our Brown County community who need the comfort and security of a home. By temporarily providing emergency rent-free apartments to deserving families with children, the EPH serves a critical function. Nearly once a week, another family with children could be offered a safe clean home that preserves their privacy and dignity, if only we had the space.

After housing more than 135 families including over 300 children in our first decade of service, the EPH hopes to expand our efforts. A two-apartment duplex was recently purchased on Harvard Street, with plans to purchase another duplex by spring or summer. With that goal in mind, The EPH Capital Fund Drive is now in progress, which seeks to raise $120,000. Any monetary donations would be greatly appreciated. Click here for a form. Checks can be made payable to Ecumenical Partnership for Housing, and sent to:

Ecumenical Partnership for Housing
PO Box 524
Green Bay, WI 54305-0524

EPH is also in need of your talent. If you have a skill that would help to serve the needs of EPH, please indicate it on the form and drop it in the offering plate or leave it in the church office. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons, painters, roofers, and landscaping are just a few. If you are willing to help prepare a welcoming meal, clean apartments, locate needed household items or serve whenever the need arises, please fill out the form below.

We also need your help by providing gently used items such as twin bed box springs and mattress, double bed box spring and mattresses, table and table lamp, ironing board, radio, knives, large kitchen pots, alarm clocks, toys, vacuum cleaners, and push lawn mower.

These items are always needed: any paper products, shampoo, deodorant, soap, detergent, toothpaste and toothbrushes, garbage bags, baggies, light bulbs and cleaning products. Please contact Nancy Tomcek with any questions.

Our congregational EPH board members are Corday Goddard, Diane Betz and Nancy Tomcek. Please feel free to contact them if you would like more information.

Your time, talent and financial commitment are greatly appreciated! Contributions are tax-deductible and stay in Brown County. Your support allows us to continue toward the overriding goal of EPH: for homeless families to remain whole, to know someone cares, to have hope for their future, and to be better equipped to function independently in the community. Thank you!

Thank you for your generous support!!!