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About Us
The
Walkin’ In My Shoes, Inc., is
501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable
organization that began in 2005 as a
grass-roots, community effort led by
Jo A Wynn, in response to the
increasing issue of underserved
homeless populations throughout the
United States. Jo Wynn would walk
the streets and go into areas where
they congregate and provide a
listening ear and a hand of
compassion. During this she
identified three very pressing needs
that were not being met by other
community organizations. The three
were: 1) the number of young people
and women with children living on
the streets that were turned away or
placed on waiting lists because
shelters were at capacity; 2) the
need for housing assistance for the
homeless population and; 3) the lack
of information and access to
prevention services for those
persons living on the street.
To
prevent the risk of sexual
exploitation of these young people,
men and women with their children, a
new agency emerged to provide them
with services that help them leave
the streets. Walkin’ In My Shoes
established the Street Outreach
Program to provide information about
prevention services that will link
the homeless with immediate
emergency shelter assistance and to
secure adequate placement within 24
hours. This was done in an effort to
reduce the number of homeless youth,
women and children on the streets of
Kenosha who were at risk of being,
sexually abused, exploited or commit
crimes to try to meet their basic
needs.
Walkin’ In My Shoes
developed the Survival Backpack as
part of the street outreach program
to provide underserved unsheltered
street homeless individuals and
families (youth, men, women and
children) with immediate needs
including personal care items for
youth and women with children in
at-risk situations. The primary goal
of the street outreach program is to
provide positive alternatives to
ensure their safety, and maximize
their potential to take advantage of
available opportunities and
assistance. In addition community
resource information to help them
access support services in Kenosha
designated to assist them further
transitions from homelessness to
self-sufficiency. The ultimate goal
is to reduce homelessness in America
by networking with other community
organizations that can serve the
needs of homeless persons'.
The backpack was inspired by the
founder's ten-year-old three pound
Toy Maltese named "Isaiah"
everywhere she goes he would travel
tucked away inside her backpack.
Since
Walkin' In My Shoes launched in July
2005, we have reached out to help
over 700 individuals and families
leave the street and into permanent
affordable housing. Among them were
single women, and women with
children, men/single fathers. Single
parent with children, veterans,
senior citizens, people living with
HIV/AIDS, domestic violence,
ex-offenders, mental illness,
alcohol and substance abuse, under
aged minors, teens thrown away,
teens that have aged out of the
foster care system and teens who
have aged out adopted homes.
We
partner with a diverse range of
public, private and religious
organizations and concerned citizens
who share our commitment to improve
the lives of our forgotten society.
Walkin'
In My Shoes' founder have been
featured in the Kenosha News and the
Racine Insider newspaper. The
founder has also received two
citizenship awards from the Kenosha
Junior Woman's Club and the General
Federation Women's Club of Wisconsin
for her outstanding service in the
community.
Walkin'
In My Shoes, Inc., daily operations
is ran by its chief executive
officer, board of directors and
volunteers. Our office hours are
10:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday and
Thursday by appointment only. Closed
Friday reviewing case file. The New
Drop-In Center Hours for Homeless
Youth are Monday though Friday from
9:00AM to 3:00PM. Our 24 hour
emergency hotline is available to
them 365 days a year by calling
(262) 914-2077. |
