You’re Invited!

Click here to purchase Seeds for Change tickets

Join us for an elegant evening to help plant the seeds of hope for families experiencing homelessness in Brown County.

Freedom House believes every family deserves a stable home and a chance to thrive. Your presence at this special event will help provide safe shelter, basic needs, and life-changing services.

You can disrupt the cycle of homelessness for struggling families! Your gift creates lasting change.

Funds will support case manager focused on workforce coaching and barrier removal

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Freedom House Ministries has received a $77,500 grant from the Stand Together Foundation, through the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, to support its innovative housing stability program at The Bridge apartment complex. The funding will enhance support services for nine families transitioning from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

The grant will primarily fund a dedicated case manager specializing in workforce coaching and provide direct assistance for barrier removal. This comprehensive approach helps families overcome obstacles to employment, secure living-wage jobs, childcare, transportation and build skills for long-term stability.

“This grant represents a transformative opportunity for families working to break free from poverty,” says Jennifer Schmohe, Executive Director of Freedom House Ministries. “By combining stable housing with intensive employment support and barrier removal assistance, we’re creating a path to self-sufficiency that will have a lasting impact on these families’ lives.”

The program represents a unique collaboration between Freedom House, House of Hope, and Golden House, three leading homeless shelters in Green Bay. Freedom House is working side-by-side with its sister homeless shelter providers by accepting referrals to The Bridge, an affordable housing complex. This partnership ensures families receive comprehensive support while maximizing community resources.

The Bridge program aligns with the Greater Green Bay Blueprint to Prevent and End Homelessness, addressing critical needs in the community’s fight against homelessness. The program focuses on helping families receiving housing assistance, develop the skills and resources needed for long-term stability.

Dear Seven-Year-Old Michelle,

This letter is for the little girl in the baby blue funeral dress that will soon vanish from the closet, sold for Mom’s next drug fix.

This letter is for the little girl who knocks timidly on mom’s bedroom door asking permission to just make a sandwich or pour a glass of milk from the fridge.

This letter is for the girl who shares a king mattress on the floor with her siblings, never knowing which apartment or school she’ll call home next month.

This letter is for you.

That baby blue funeral dress meant everything to you, didn’t it? So beautiful, so proper – the last gift from dad, really. You felt like a glowing little girl in it, even on the saddest day of your young life. When it disappeared from the closet, it felt like losing him all over again.

I know you blame mom for selling it for drugs, and that anger will stay with you for years. But one day you’ll understand that she was fighting her own demons, lost in an addiction she couldn’t control. That dress, though – it will always be etched in your memory.

It marked the end of your innocent childhood, and the beginning of a life filled with struggle, heartbreak, and uncertainty. But here’s something beautiful: One day, you’ll be stable enough to buy pretty dresses for your own daughter, and that cycle of loss will be broken.

The instability will be overwhelming – learning to be invisible, to survive. But I want you to know that your sister – yes, the one who got out and started working at LENAS – she’s showing you a path. Watch her. Learn from her. She’s teaching you that there’s a way out, even if you can’t see it clearly yet.

I wish I could tell you that what’s ahead will be easy. It won’t be. But you’re going to make it through, and one day, you’ll be writing this letter from your own apartment, in your final semester of nursing school, with your beautiful daughter sleeping safely in her own room.

I’m writing to you from a place of peace that might seem impossible right now. I’m 34 now and living safely. Yes, you read that right – the girl who bounced between elementary schools will be the first in our family to go to college.

You need to know that none of what will happen is your fault. Not mom’s addiction. Not dad’s death. Not the constant housing moves or the hunger or stealing clothes from our sisters just to have something to wear. And especially not what happens that summer night at the bus stop.

That night will haunt you forever. You’ll be so angry at mom for trying to control you that you’ll storm out to catch the bus. In your shorts and summer clothes, you’ll feel invincible – until a man in a hoodie snatches you from that bus stop. The personal violation, the gun, the helplessness – it will haunt you for years.

When they catch him and he calls you a prostitute, when the community tells you to just move on like it never happened, the pain will feel unbearable. But listen to me: The violation does not define you. One day, it will fuel your fierce determination to protect other women, to tell your story so that others might find their way to safety.

I know why you’ll believe that man when he comes along at 19, promising to take care of you. After everything with mom, after that night at the bus stop, the promise of security will feel like salvation. But those nine years with him will test every ounce of strength you have. When he tells you you’re nothing, that you’ll never be anything, remember this: He sees your potential, and it terrifies him.

Your daughter Audrey will change everything. When you learn she’s nonverbal autistic at age 5, it will feel like being hit “with a Santa Claus-sized bag of bricks.” You’ll cry in that doctor’s office, feeling lost and alone. But Michelle, listen to me, Audrey is going to be your greatest blessing. Through her, you’ll discover a love deeper than anything you’ve known. You’ll develop your own beautiful language, a connection that others might not understand but that fills your heart completely. She is your family – the purest, truest family you’ve ever had.

The day you pack your bags and leave with Audrey will be the scariest and bravest thing you’ve ever done. You’ll still struggle – with alcohol, with depression, with figuring out how to be a mother. But then you’ll eventually find Freedom House, and this is where your real story begins.

Freedom House will become the parent you’ve never had, the family you’ve always needed. They’ll teach you everything from doing laundry, financial management, understanding your own self-worth and running a household. More importantly, they’ll give you time – time to heal, time to learn who you really are, time to become the person you were meant to be. They’ll see potential in you that you can’t yet see in yourself.

Today, I have pride in who I’ve become. While I’m still working through challenges – finding stable childcare for Audrey, managing finances, planning for a home purchase – I’m finally writing my own story.

I’m free from domestic violence. I’m sober. I’m strong.

I’m learning to be proud of myself, even though that voice of self-doubt still whispers sometimes.

I miss the family connections – my brother with his six children, my sisters who I only see at funerals. But I’ve learned that family isn’t always blood. Freedom House has given my daughter and I a community, a support system, a true home. They’ve helped me piece myself back together, bit by bit, until I could finally see my own worth.

That’s why I’m telling our story now. I’m in a place of peace, even with the daily struggles of being a single mother to a child with special needs. I want other women to know there’s hope, there’s help, there’s a way out. Every time I share my journey, it’s like releasing some of the weight carried for so long.

Remember this little girl: We are not our circumstances. That smart, capable person mom always said you were? She was right. You’ll prove it by surviving things that would break most people. You’ll break the cycle of trauma and addiction. You’ll create a different life for your daughter. You’ll help other women find their way to safety.

Most importantly, you’ll learn that strength isn’t about doing everything alone – it’s about having the courage to let others help you rebuild your life. Freedom House will give you the foundation you need to become who you’re meant to be, to finally feel like a human being worthy of love and stability.

When you’re sleeping on that mattress tonight with your siblings, having not showered in days, wondering if things will ever get better, know this: They will.

You’ll have your own space, your own furniture, your own towels (so many towels!), and a future that’s bigger than anything you can imagine right now. Every day, you’ll be able to choose happiness, even while acknowledging the hard days that still come.

Keep going, little one. Help is coming. Your story isn’t just about survival – it’s about triumph.

With love and hope,

Michelle

P.S. – That voice in your head telling you you’re not capable? It’s lying. You’re a great mother and going to be a college graduate real soon. You’ll be a damn good nurse. You’re going to have a real home one day. You’re going to break every cycle that tried to break you. Just watch.

A personal reflection written by Courtney Mabie, Success Coach at Freedom House

I felt the weight of isolation pressing down harder than ever at just 18. The world was unforgiving, much like the turmoil inside me as I navigated my senior year of high school.

Mental health struggles, compounded by a series of unfortunate events, had me experiencing homelessness just as I was supposed to be living some of the best days of my life. With each one that passed, I learned what it truly meant to fight to survive.

I found myself at a local homeless shelter for adults barely an adult myself, trying to blend in with people who had lived through their own stories of heartache. For two weeks, I fought to keep my head above water, juggling high school and the harsh realities of a new environment. It was a terrifying balancing act.

During those two weeks, life tossed its worst at me. I lost my job, the little source of income that had given me a sliver of stability. I experienced a traumatic event that left me shaken and broken. As stress mounted, I began suffering from debilitating migraines that landed me in the hospital. I felt trapped, lost in a world that seemed to have no exit. When I was finally discharged, a family from my church took me in. They offered kindness, but I still felt like a stranger in a new world.

My mental health remained fragile. I faced the shadows of suicidal thoughts, which led to another hospitalization—this time at a psychiatric facility. Once discharged, I was moved to a short-term diversion shelter for medication stabilization, but I ended up staying for six long months due to not being able to return to the former shelter I once called my temporary home.

This time was marked by the struggle to attend school and maintain any semblance of normalcy. I experienced yet another traumatic event caused by the hands of another. I was surrounded by others grappling with their own demons, each of us tethered to our traumas in ways we couldn’t always articulate.

It was within this place, though, that I encountered remarkable people—individuals who took the time to care, to listen, to help. I remember the staff who painted my nails, baked cookies to share, and even bought me a ticket to prom. They understood that small acts of kindness could make the unbearable a little more bearable. With their support, I managed to walk across that graduation stage, my heart full of gratitude for those who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself.

Fast forward ten years, and I find myself standing on the other side of the journey—now a case manager at Freedom House. I see reflections of my past in the families that walk through our doors. Each day, I have the privilege of helping them navigate their own paths out of homelessness. It’s an honor to be a cheerleader for the children, the same way those adults had cheered for me.

Just recently, I brought a teenager from Freedom House to a school meeting at the same high school I graduated from a decade earlier. As we walked the familiar halls, I felt the weight of what it meant to be back in that space, knowing the struggles this young adult is facing reflect a bit of mine years ago. I could see the potential, and I was determined to help this kid tap into it.

Homelessness is layered; it’s not just about the absence of a roof over one’s head. It’s about the unseen battles, the trauma that lingers, and the hope that sometimes feels just out of reach. I’m honored to be here today to bridge that gap, to be the trusted adult who listens, who supports, and who believes.

I often reflect on my journey and the adults who shaped my life during those turbulent years. They showed me that even in the depths of despair, kindness exists. And now, I strive to offer that same kindness to the families I work with at Freedom House, hoping to light the way for them just as others once did for me. Sometimes, we endure hardship not just for ourselves but to pave a smoother path for those who come after us. And in that realization, I find purpose—a mission to ensure that no one has to face their darkest days alone.

Written by Success Coach Courtney Mabie

As we observe Suicide Prevention Month, it’s crucial to shine a spotlight on a particularly vulnerable group: individuals experiencing homelessness. In the United States, the suicide rates among this population are alarmingly high, with estimates suggesting that between 13% and 28% of deaths among those experiencing homelessness are due to suicide. This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and compassionate support.

The high suicide rates among those experiencing homelessness are deeply linked to feelings of shame, stigma, and lack of hope. Many individuals grapple with a profound sense of failure, believing they have let down themselves, their children, their families, and society. This internalized shame is often compounded by external judgments from those who may not fully understand the complexities of homelessness. Common misconceptions—such as the belief that people can simply “get a job,” “stop drinking or using drugs,” or “make better choices”—ignore the systemic barriers and personal struggles faced by those without stable housing. 

The impact of these challenges extends beyond adults and children living in family shelters. For young people, witnessing the struggles and despair of their parents or caregivers can be profoundly distressing. The emotional toll can manifest in their own mental health, as they may feel helpless, anxious, or guilty about their family’s situation. They may also internalize the stigma surrounding homelessness, which can affect their self-esteem and sense of security. The fear of what the future holds or the confusion about their current circumstances can exacerbate their feelings of despair. 

The stigma of homelessness is not limited to societal misconceptions. It also affects the children living in these environments. Young people may feel a pervasive sense of shame, which can lead to increased isolation and mental health challenges. The stigma can prevent them from seeking help, contributing to their deteriorating mental health and potentially leading to long-term psychological effects. 

Moreover, obtaining and maintaining mental health support is particularly challenging for families experiencing homelessness. The barriers are significant: Overscheduled providers, transient living conditions, and limited access to transportation making it exceedingly difficult for parents and their children to attend therapy sessions or follow through with treatment plans. Our fragmented healthcare system leaves many without the consistent support they need, exacerbating their mental health struggles and increasing the risk of suicidal ideation. 

To address these circumstances and reduce the suicide rates among individuals experiencing homelessness, including the impact on children, we must focus on demonstrating love and support. Treating individuals with inherent dignity and worth, and acknowledging the emotional needs of children, can help alleviate some of the burdens they carry. Simple acts of kindness and understanding can make a significant difference in their lives. It’s essential to approach those facing homelessness with empathy rather than criticism. Instead of judging their choices or circumstances, we should offer practical assistance and a non-judgmental listening ear. 

Organizations like Freedom House play a vital role in this effort. We provide access to tangible, practical resources such as mental health services, financial wellness programs, career navigation, and stable housing solutions. For families staying at the House, this support is crucial in rebuilding their lives and regaining independence. The well-being of children is a central focus, as stable housing and comprehensive support help mitigate the emotional impact of homelessness and suicide risk. 

Volunteers, staff and community partners at Freedom House embody the principles of selfless service and compassion, offering a supportive environment where families, including children, can find solace and begin the path toward recovery and stability. Donors who contribute financially to Freedom House help fund essential services, including meals, room supplies, case management, and mental health services. These resources are crucial for helping families achieve self-sufficiency and supporting the mental health of both adults and children. 

As we commemorate Suicide Prevention Month, let’s remember the importance of addressing the mental health crisis among those experiencing homelessness, with a special focus on the children affected. By showing love, offering support, and providing necessary resources, we can work towards reducing suicide rates and helping individuals and their families find hope and reclaim their place in society. Through collective empathy and action, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing homelessness. 

Freedom House Ministries is thrilled to highlight an ongoing partnership with WG&R Furniture. Their generous donations of beds and mattresses have been instrumental in providing a safe and comfortable environment for families experiencing homelessness.

When the current Freedom House shelter opened in 2020, WG&R Furniture provided 32 twin/full bunk bed frames and 64 mattresses. This generous gift ensured that every new resident had a place to sleep comfortably.

Over the years, this partnership has continued to grow through their Brighter Dreams Project. Since 2021, WG&R has generously donated 75 additional mattresses.

“Since our Brighter Dreams program formally kicked off in December of 2020, we have donated over 1,300 beds to children in need,” said WG&R Executive Assistant, Melissa Laabs. “Just saying that sentence gives me a whirlwind of emotions – it makes me sad to know the need is so great and continues to grow; it makes me proud to work for a company that is intentional about giving back to the community; and, finally, I am humbled to contribute my efforts to this vital program.”

These donations have made a significant difference in the lives of countless families. One such family is a mother and her 17-year-old daughter. After living in their car for two months, they moved into Freedom House in late August. The mother had been struggling with health concerns about her diabetes that were exacerbated by the lack of electricity and proper medical equipment in the car for her medications. She had barely slept in weeks and was desperate for a bed to call her own.

“Our partnership with WG&R Furniture has been a game-changer for Freedom House Ministries,” Freedom House Executive Director Jen Schmohe said. “Their generous donations of beds and mattresses have provided a vital foundation for the families we serve. It’s more than just a place to sleep; it’s a symbol of hope and stability.”

Thanks to WG&R’s generous donation, she was able to get a good night’s sleep for the first time in months.

We are proud of the partnership with WG&R Furniture and for their continued support of Freedom House Ministries. With over 250 individuals in shelter each year. This ongoing need for replacement mattresses is a testament to WG&R commitment to families experiencing homelessness. These new mattresses provide adults and children with a good night’s sleep as they move toward independence.

This poem was written by Success Coach Courtney Mabie after several interactions with children at Freedom House, talking about getting ready for school.

In the morning light, a bus rolls near, 
Picking up children, their hopes held dear. 
From the shelter where goals are woven tight, 
A young one steps out into the new school light.

A shiny yellow bus, a rumbling cheer, 
The scent of crayons and breakfast near. 
Little feet march up the metal steps, 
Eager hearts inside, no hint of secrets kept.

Breakfast at school, a table spread wide, 
Milk and eggs, laughter as a guide. 
Friends chatter on about cartoons and games, 
Unaware of the shelter, the whispers of shame.

In the classroom’s embrace, with walls painted bright,
A child sits ready, eyes wide with delight. 
Teachers hand out worksheets, a lesson anew, 
No clue of the battles, the storms that they flew.

Comparing new clothes, they giggle and play, 
The child’s donated jacket, hidden away.
A backpack once loved, now worn with grace, 
Passed along gently, a temporary embrace.

Each pencil and book, each story they share, 
Are battles fought quietly, with courage to spare. 
The weight of the nights, the shelter’s soft hum, 
Are carried so silently as daylights come.

A smile lights the face, a hand raised so high, 
In the heart of a child, where dreams never die. 
Unseen are the struggles, the nights spent in need, 
Yet here in the classroom, their spirit’s freed.

In the midst of their peers, their challenges stay, 
Wrapped in the shadows of bright, busy day. 
Yet they sit with resolve, with dreams clear and bright, 
A beacon of hope in the morning’s first light.

David and his 8-year-old son, Junior, were at a crossroads two years ago when they entered The Bridge, a transitional housing program offered by Freedom House. This step began a transformative journey that would reshape their lives.

A pivotal partnership between Freedom House and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Worker Connection Program breathed new life into their situation. This collaboration helped David secure full-time employment at a local manufacturing company, providing the stable income that became the foundation of their future.

Freedom House’s comprehensive support system offered everything from legal assistance to childcare support and personalized success coaching. This holistic approach allowed David to tackle life’s complexities, including finalizing his international divorce from the mother of his older children in Mexico.

Junior’s enrollment at Oneida School opened a new chapter. Surrounded by an environment that celebrated his Native American heritage, Junior flourished, bringing immeasurable joy to David. Watching his son thrive in a place that honored their cultural roots became a source of pride and motivation.

Emboldened by their progress, David applied for the Oneida Tribe’s homeownership program, driven by the dream of providing his family with a permanent home.

As they settled into a comfortable two-bedroom rental near David’s workplace and Junior’s school, the pieces of their new life fell into place. The Bridge’s support network ensured Junior was well cared for while David focused on his professional responsibilities. Recognizing the importance of emotional well-being, they embraced mental health services and community support groups, building resilience with each passing day.

David and Junior’s story is a testament to the power of an inner will to do better and the importance of community support. They’ve shown that determination, the right support and hope, it’s possible to rebuild a life filled with stability, dignity, and promise.

As they continue to write their story, David and Junior stand as living proof they can overcome anything.

Written by Courtney Mabie, Success Coach at Freedom House

“Homelessness is expensive.”

This stark and powerful statement underscores a truth that often remains overlooked. While it might seem that those without a roof over their heads are saving money by not paying rent, the financial and emotional toll of homelessness is profound and multifaceted.

I witness these struggles daily and work tirelessly to address them at Freedom House.

At first glance, the absence of rent payments, insurance costs, and monthly utility bills might suggest homelessness could be less costly. However, this perspective overlooks the myriad expenses incurred in the daily struggle for survival. For those experiencing homelessness, every day presents a relentless challenge of securing basic needs—meals, transportation, hygiene services, and more.

These costs can add up quickly, especially when one’s income is nonexistent or severely limited. Freedom House steps in to provide not just shelter, but also meals and essential supplies, easing this financial burden for residents.

Consider the daily expenditure on food. Individuals without stable housing often rely on food banks, shelters, or charity organizations for a hot meal, but these resources are not always sufficient or consistent. Even when they are, the effort to access these resources requires time, energy, and often transportation—each of which can be expensive.

Transportation, too, is a critical cost. Whether it’s the expense of public transit or the cost of maintaining a vehicle, getting around is essential for accessing employment opportunities, healthcare, and social services. For many, these costs can create a barrier to escaping homelessness.

The cost of maintaining personal hygiene is another hidden expense. Without a stable place to live, securing showers and clean clothes becomes a daily struggle, often necessitating the use of paid facilities or resources that may not always be readily accessible.

More significant than these immediate financial burdens, however, are the emotional and psychological costs of homelessness. The absence of a stable home can erode one’s sense of self-worth and dignity. When society’s expectations place immense pressure on individuals to provide and care for their families, the inability to meet these expectations can lead to a deep sense of inadequacy.

Parents experiencing homelessness often grapple with the fear that they are failing their children, unable to offer the stability and security that are deemed essential.

The stress of navigating a system set up to keep them on the margins can lead to a loss of hope and integrity. The weight of these intangible costs—diminished self-esteem, fractured family relationships, and the erosion of hope—is significant and often overlooked.

This is where Freedom House Ministries make a profound difference.

We provide more than just temporary shelter. Offering a space where families can rebuild their lives with dignity and support, creates a change forever. Addressing the immediate needs of housing and food, Freedom House addresses the immediate needs of shelter and food and also focuses on the critical aspects of emotional and psychological support. We provide access to counseling, case management resources, and job coaching, all of which are designed to help individuals and families regain their confidence and self-sufficiency.

Freedom House recognizes that stability is not just about having a roof over one’s head but about restoring the sense of hope and purpose that can be lost in the struggle for survival.

Through our comprehensive approach, Freedom House helps families transition from a state of crisis to stability and success, fostering an environment where parents can regain their confidence and children grow up in a nurturing, supportive setting.

There are so many hidden costs and aspects of homelessness that go unseen. It isn’t just about getting a job or finding an apartment. The scars created when becoming and during homelessness are deep. It takes a support system to heal the many wounds. While I see the struggle daily, I look to the positives of alleviating costs and paving the way for families to achieve stability and a brighter future.