Navigating uncertain times
“We were anxious, upset and close to becoming homeless.” It was a few weeks before Christmas when Cynthia’s landlord told her he was selling the house she and her sister were renting. He said the [...]
Community Action encourages parents to thrive
From a recent Google review:Community Action's Project Thrive, a funded program of United Way Blackhawk Region, teaches young people how to literally THRIVE! My son had issues in high school, Beloit Learning Academy, (BLA) and [...]
The life-changing ability of reliable child care
When Sarah* first enrolled her son at Community Kids Learning Center, the two were staying at a domestic violence shelter. She didn’t have family in the area. “I had no job, no ID, no car. [...]
Kyle’s Story – Rapid Rehousing
Life was super rough before Community Action. I was homeless for four years. I had a couple suicide attempts. I was living outside in the snow. My daughter stayed with me but went to her [...]
AWARE in Evansville doubles food deliveries during the pandemic
What’s better than a box of Cracker Jacks with a surprise? A box of kid-friendly foods with bigger and better surprises…art kits, games, activities and more! Since March, AWARE’s Snackpacker program has delivered boxes of [...]
A safe space for homeless families
“I never felt alone when I was at Twin Oaks, even during the darkest times.” Amy’s college career at UW-Whitewater skidded to a halt once the pandemic hit. As a non-traditional student she couldn’t go [...]
Sixty days at Twin Oaks Shelter leads to permanent housing
We are pleased to share a recent success story from Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless. Neil, Tara, and Neil’s son, Adam, became homeless when family members kicked them out. They had been staying in [...]
“A life-changing program”
Carlos, a father of three, was an inmate in the Rock County Jail's RECAP program when Erick Williams gave a presentation on Community Action's Fatherhood Initiative. Carlos promised Erick, the program manager, that he would [...]
Helping another family through tough times
Linda’s husband John was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Their children were grown but John would no longer be able to work. Linda’s disability check was not enough to pay for everything. When bills piled up they [...]
The school community at Twin Oaks Shelter
Starting a new school year can be nerve-racking for any kid, but it’s especially so when that big first day rolls around and finds you living in a homeless shelter. That’s the situation facing the [...]
“A newly acquired feeling of worthiness”
Laura escaped domestic violence in Texas, traveling north to live with a sibling in Madison. When that arrangement didn’t work out, she put her name in a lottery for a bed in a women’s shelter, [...]
After two years of walking, a reliable vehicle.
After owning two unreliable vehicles that broke down constantly, Darnell was paying to carpool and walking to and from work for more than two years. Prior to the Work-n-Wheels vehicle loan approval, Darnell, his wife Kissa, [...]
WIOA helps speed up college degrees
Isaac began his participation in Community Action's Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program in 2011 in a Tourism apprenticeship program which provided him the skills to get a regular seasonal job in tourism. WIA also helped [...]
Weatherization program: small changes for big impact
We recently scheduled an energy audit for an elderly couple living in a mobile home on a fixed income. The list of things we can fix in a mobile home has been dramatically decreased, but [...]
“Community Action is my first choice when I need help.”
Rakeem successfully completed the Community Action WIA In-School Youth Program in November of 2013. Rakeem received his high school diploma and went on to find gainful employment working for the School District of Janesville. In September [...]
It does nothing but get better.
The young men and women in Community Action's mentoring program are not your average teens. "I see a change in their perspective, the way they have respect. The way they communicate with each other," says [...]
“Paying it forward is important.”
ANGI Energy Systems has supported Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless for the past four years. Every year employees "adopt" the shelter's residents at Christmas and try to fulfill their needs, wants and dreams. To [...]
I didn’t want to give up
Staff in Beloit Fresh Start believe everyone deserves a second chance at success. For Liliana, joining Fresh Start was just what she needed to graduate from high school. Liliana completed the rigorous interview process and [...]
“Addicted to doing positive things”
When you join a gang in third grade, good life choices don’t often naturally follow. Jeovante Jones, originally of Chicago, knows that first hand. “People don’t want to be bad, but when you grow up [...]
Generations helping at Twin Oaks
The call comes in the middle of the night. Your daughter and your young grandchildren are in crisis. They need your help. You and your husband try to talk her through it, but it quickly [...]
Driven with a diploma
Jack came to the Community Action mentoring group and wasn’t on the right path. He wasn’t getting good grades in school, he even had some alcohol and drug issues. He was junior in high school. [...]
The road to success
"My niece had gone through a divorce and was a single mom, working at an entry level position. Her credit score was affected by things that happened in her marriage that were out of her [...]
My first choice when I need help
Rakeem successfully completed the Community Action WIA In-School Youth Program in November of 2013. Rakeem received his high school diploma and went on to find gainful employment working for the Educational Services Center in Janesville. [...]
The keys to a better career
Tim lives in Elkhorn, and had a hard time finding a well-paying job. His car was old and unreliable, and Walworth County doesn't have many other transportation options. He caught a ride to work with coworkers [...]
“Now we can do better”
Debbie is a single parent of five children, one with a disability. She was recently diagnosed with a long-term illness and tires easily. Debbie has participated in multiple AWARE in Evansville programs and this past [...]
Many ways to help an Evansville family
Carol is a 28 year old mother of three. She left Madison for a safer neighborhood, reasonable rent and a strong school. Her partner works full-time in Madison at $13/hour and he must leave the house [...]
“My mommy and I need help”
Sarah, a parent in the AWARE program's former Snackpacker program, lost her job and moved four times in the previous eighteen months. She said the stress of her situation was beyond anything she had ever [...]
Skills for a work-life balance
Jenny is a single parent with three children who entered Community Action's Skills Enhancement program in 2014. When she enrolled, Jenny was working 20 hours a week at $9.00 per hour with no health care [...]
Father figure
Jason, a father of four, came to the Community Action Fatherhood Initiative program after a long period of incarceration. While away from his family he knew things needed to change, most importantly his behavior. He [...]
Potential dropout to proud diploma
A young man was in danger of dropping out of high school last year when he entered Community Action’s mentoring program. His behavior and demeanor changed over the summer through his work in the mentoring [...]
A foundation for families
Written by Shelly Birkelo, Janesville Gazette, June 12, 2015: Melissa Ostenson and Elijah Lminggio lost their family's only income when he was injured in a car crash. They had only enough money for two months' rent. [...]
Encouragement leads to success
Jasmine is a 21-year-old who was enrolled in the Teen Pregnancy Connection (TPC) program. She has a toddler son and was also pregnant with her second child. Jasmine had been enrolled in the TPC program [...]
Health care for a young woman
From First Choice Health Center: "A few years ago a father came into the Wisconsin Well Woman office [at First Choice Health Center in Janesville] with his 16-year-old daughter and his young son. His daughter [...]
Road to graduation
From Linda Fair, Academic Supervisor of the Beloit Fresh Start program: "There are plenty of reasons that I enjoy working at Community Action but one reason that sticks out in my head is having 21 [...]
A volunteer’s perspective of Twin Oaks
Bruce originally started working with Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless about a decade ago through a program that employs older workers. When that ended, he says missed being with the homeless so he volunteers [...]
Weatherization brings a homeowner out of the cold
From a recent recipient of Community Action's Weatherization program services: Thank you so much for all that you guys did! I bought this house as a foreclosure four years ago. It was pretty nasty [...]
Building a work history and college-bound
At 20 years of age with a lack of employment history, Jernae Hooks’ future job prospects looked bleak. But with the help of some dedicated staff and a positive outlook from Jernae, she’s moving forward [...]
Homelessness Where We Live
Note: Royce DeBow, past Community Action Board president shared this story to illustrate his passion for Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless. DeBow passed away in 2014. We bring you his story in honor of [...]
Stable Housing and Education Provide a Foundation in Beloit
Savanna enrolled in the PATHS Pilot Program last fall. PATHS is a Pilot Program for youth ages 17-21 who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness and have been in the foster care system. [...]
A Home With a Puppy
Mary and Robert moved to Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless this winter with their four grandchildren. The couple had just gained custody of the children, who are all under the age of six. Mary [...]
Overcoming Obstacles to Climb the Career Ladder
Jenny entered Community Action's Transitional Living Program (TLP) in Walworth County after staying at Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless in Darien. While a typical stay at the shelter is 90 days, Jenny and her [...]
From Part-Time to Provider
Tammy is a woman in her late 30s with three young children under the age of five. She provides for her children and her husband, who is on disability and unable to work. Tammy entered [...]
An Unexpected Valentine’s Day at Twin Oaks
One February 14th, residents and staff were faced with an unexpected emergency situation at Twin Oaks Shelter for the Homeless. As they sat down for a Valentine’s Day dinner prepared by one of the residents, [...]
Community Sharing Garden
From a Community Action employee: One warm afternoon, I was driving past our community sharing garden in Beloit's Merrill neighborhood when I spotted a two-year-old child dressed only in a diaper standing in the garden. [...]
Beloit Native Leads Community Action
Cecilia Dever started as executive director Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties in January 2015, after serving as deputy director for roughly one year. She describes how she identifies with the agency's mission of [...]
From Shy Student to Confident Employee
Carlos D. enrolled in the Workforce Investment Act's (WIA) In-School Youth Program while earning his high school diploma through the Beloit Fresh Start Program. Carlos was a quiet and shy young man who was determined [...]