After Project RUSH sent 125 volunteers into the streets to interview 600 people who were homeless or on the verge, the Fox Cities Housing Coalition had their own story to tell. A grant from the Community Foundation’s Basic Needs Giving Partnership allowed them to tell it widely and well.

A $10,000 grant made to the Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities to help the coalition of Fox Valley housing agencies present a quality report to the community helped them draw 350 guests, five times the number at past events. Being able to book the event at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel gave them the space they needed, and telling their story with breakfast and a compelling video produced by Image Studios of Appleton filled the seats.

The Basic Needs Giving Partnership is funded by the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs within the Community Foundation from the annual U.S. Venture Open golf outing, with additional money from the J. J. Keller Foundation and other community partners. Volunteer committee members for Basic Needs concluded Project RUSH found important information about homelessness that the community needed to know about. 

The success of Project RUSH also led to:

• A museum exhibit and traveling exhibit by the History Museum at the Castle based on photos taken by homeless people.
• Distribution of 750 printed reports on Project RUSH and the need to order 500 more.
• Awarding of a local Silver ADDY for the Image Studios video.

Read the report and learn more at www.fchc.net.