COTS, Inc., “Community Outreach Temporary Services,” helps individuals experiencing homelessness in the Fox Cities. COTS provides transitional shelter to individuals in Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. Programming is focused on addressing the root causes of homelessness and includes a program for young adults (ages 18-24).
The goal of the COTS Young Adult (YA) Program is to help young adults transition to self-sufficiency by providing a safe, affordable place to live, food, household needs and life skills training.
The COTS Young Adult Program uses Positive Placement planning focused on four areas key to leaving homelessness for good: stable housing, pro-social connections, employment/education, and well-being. The funding from the Girl’s Grantmaking Project helped offset costs for this program that is essential to the success of these young adults.
As a longtime volunteer at the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region and a member of a Giving Circle I am encouraged to see organizations like COTS addressing root causes of homelessness through programs that provide a pathway for individuals to lead a productive and self-sustaining life and become contributing, thriving members of our community. Focusing on programs that serve our most vulnerable youth will have long-term outcomes for our community by removing individuals from social services and adding much needed talent to our work force, who can then give back to the community. In many situations, former YA residents can share learning and insights with siblings, children, and friends to further break the cycle of homelessness in their family and the community at large.
