United We Fight Homelessness
United Way of Northern Ozaukee is working with our community partners to raise awareness about the growing number of Ozaukee County residents who are vulnerable to losing their homes.
We're hosting a two-part virtual town hall series to discuss the results of our recently completed needs analysis survey and new data about at-risk populations in Ozaukee County, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ozaukee families and housing.
Join us via Zoom for these two community conversations aimed at creating a comprehensive, sustainable strategy for safe and stable housing in Ozaukee County. We are hoping to build on the tremendous momentum we have made on homeless prevention and have fresh dialogue on this important issue.
Let's say with pride that Ozaukee County takes care of those in need and believes in everyone’s basic right to secure housing.
Session 1: Thursday, Oct. 15
Read the community report discussed during Session 1 with our keynote speaker and panelists
Session 2: Thursday, Oct. 29
We are excited to continue the conversation started at the first session. This will be a working meeting with most of the time spent in small groups to generate ideas and energy around three main topics: affordable housing, emergency shelter, and community engagement.
Register to attend
Jan Wilberg, Ph.D
Jan Wilberg is a community planning consultant based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her firm, Wilberg Community Planning, offers 25 years’ experience in needs assessment, project planning, program evaluation, strategic development, and group facilitation.
Jan has extensive professional and volunteer experience in homelessness. She was the principal author of Milwaukee’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, was a leader in the development of Milwaukee’s Coordinated Entry system and provided technical assistance to the Waukesha Housing Coalition to improve their response to homelessness. This is her second Update on Homelessness in Ozaukee County - the first published in 2015.
Jan has a Ph.D. in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 2006, she received the UWM Scott Greer Award for postgraduate contribution to urban affairs and, in 2018, was named a Woman of Influence for innovation by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Barbara Bates-Nelson
Barbara Bates-Nelson is the Executive Director for United Way of Northern Ozaukee. She has served in that role for the past 9 years. United Way’s mission is to fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person: Housing intersects in all three of those focus areas and, therefore, has been a major initiative for UWNO. Barbara is anxious to host this town hall series on homeless prevention to help educate, advocate and leverage broad-based support for safe and stable housing.
Kathleen Christenson Fisher
Kathleen Christenson Fisher is the Chief Executive Officer of Family Promise of Ozaukee County, an emergency shelter and housing nonprofit. She has been with the organization since 2014, successfully navigating through startup to lead local homeless coalition agency. Kathleen's history of homeless services began in 2010 when she became the Executive Director of Family Promise of Washington County. There she took the lead in the development of multiple shelter and housing programs in Washington County. Her passion extends beyond county lines - she is currently an executive member of the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care Board of Directors.
Diana Eggold
Diana Eggold is the Vice President of Habitat for Humanity Ozaukee. She has been active with Habitat since 2012, first starting out as a volunteer on the home builds and then becaming a board member in 2014. In 2018, she became the vice president, and she now works with businesses, churches and community organizations to help promote Habitat locally. She owns DLE Designs, a window treatment business in Grafton and has lived in Grafton for over 30 years.
Barb Fischer
In September of 2004, Barb joined Advocates as Executive Director, bringing more than 30 years of nonprofit management. During her tenure with Advocates of Ozaukee, the clients served have tripled, staffing has more than doubled and funding has more than quadrupled. Client services have grown to include human trafficking victims. The children’s program has grown to a full-time staff person and a legal advocate position has been created based on client needs. Additionally, Advocates began managing HUD homeless and shelter funding in 2006 and was the guiding agency to begin a homelessness committee in Ozaukee County. Homelessness prevention funding through United Way of Northern Ozaukee has reached over 1,000 individuals. Advocates currently works as part of the local Continuum of Care for both homelessness prevention and re-housing of those who are homeless.
Karina Ward, Moderator
Karina Ward is a community development educator with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension in Ozaukee County. She focuses on empowering local organizations, co-creating space for community engagement and building vibrant communities. Prior to joining Extension, Karina worked as a planner for both local and regional government organizations and led a non-profit organization focused on community and economic development.