Fox Cities Housing Coalition

Summary: In 2006 the Fox Cities Housing Coalition asked the Partnership to assist in evaluating its capacity and recommend options for effective growth and change. Partnership staff gathered information, conducted research and prepared recommendations for consideration by the FCHC board. Click here to view or download the report in PDF.

Staff contacts: Kristin Silva, Joanna Balsamo-Lilien

Wisconsin Partnership's role: Consultant

Status of work: Completed in 2006

The Fox Cities Housing Coalition (FCHC) is a consortium of housing and housing-related service providers working in the Appleton Metropolitan Service Area in Wisconsin. Established in 1995, the FCHC has two main purposes: to organize the housing community into a single body that can promote the most efficient and cooperative use of resources, and to educate the community about the need for affordable housing. To address the latter purpose, FCHC had launched “A Place to Call Home,” a community-education initiative designed to build awareness, build cooperation, and build housing and services.

In 2006 the FCHC asked the Partnership to assist in evaluating its capacity and recommend options for effective growth and change. Coalition members were especially concerned about their capacity to implement “A Place to Call Home.”

Working collaboratively with FCHC members, Partnership staff conducted extensive interviews with FCHC members to determine their motivation for participating in the coalition, the benefits their organizations derived from it and their views as to the appropriate role for the coalition to play. Telephone interviews with community members, including local foundations, were also held to determine their views about the FCHC. Finally, staff gathered information about other successful coalition models across the United States.

Using the research results, the Partnership presented the FCHC board with a number of recommended steps for helping the FCHC move forward effectively. These included incorporating as a 501(c)(3) organization, hiring a staff person, and forming a marketing and public relations committee to develop a strategy for more effective communication with the public. If funding can be secured, the FCHC may contract with the Partnership to implement some of the recommendations contained in the report. Click here to view or download the report in PDF.