A large and supportive group of community members gathered at the Grace Center on Thursday, November 2, to celebrate Community Advocates Public Policy Institute’s 15th anniversary and to hear from author Ben Westhoff about his experiences in researching the fentanyl crisis and his solutions for preventing more deaths as Milwaukee County continues to see a surge in opioid overdoses.

The evening started with an overview of the history and mission of PPI by Community Advocates CEO Andi Elliott, a brief but passionate speech about the opioid crisis by Milwaukee’s fire chief, Aaron Lipski, a thoughtful and engaging speech by De’Shawn Ewing, PPI’s Community Outreach and Engagement Manager, and an exploration of the vision of PPI by Community Advocates COO Maudwella Kirkendoll. 

Ben Westhoff provided an overview of the research that underpins his book Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic, and emphasized that efforts to reduce the harm from fentanyl should focus on preventing and minimizing the impact of substance misuse through education, especially among young people.

We want to thank everyone who supported PPI’s work and contributed to the event, including our event sponsors AF Technical Resources, Diverse & Resilient, Valerie Gabriel, Marcus Theatres, Neu-Life Community Development, Rogers Behavioral Health, and UW Population Health Institute, plus our silent auction participants and attendees. We appreciate it!

Remembering the blessings in our own lives fills us with appreciation and encourages an attitude of gratitude. During this time of year as we reflect on people and things in our lives for which we are thankful, let us also remember those in our community who are facing significant struggles and need life-sustaining services.



Community Advocates is committed to ensuring that low-income families and individuals in Milwaukee are able to meet their basic needs. We are one of the few remaining community-based organizations welcoming walk-in clients five days a week. 

Whether there is a need for safe, affordable housing; money management services for individuals living with mental illness; or quality care for survivors of domestic violence, Community Advocates meets these needs with programs and services that provide dignity and hope.

As we enter this season of giving, we ask you to think about what you are most grateful for, and from that place of gratitude, please consider donating to Community Advocates. Your financial support provides critical services and assistance that inspires Milwaukee’s neediest individuals and families to envision a brighter future. 

After four years away due to pandemic restrictions, Project Homeless Connect returned in October with the participation of Community Advocates’ housing advocates. Organized by United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, this community-wide gathering provides resources, information, and camaraderie for individuals who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Our housing advocates provided information about our vital programs, including our Homeless Outreach Program, Autumn West Safe Haven, Project Bridge Supportive Housing Program, and Milwaukee Women’s Center’s Emergency Shelter and Family Support Center. 

Earlier this month, Autumn West Safe Haven partnered with Advocate Aurora's mobile health team to provide the first of its bi-monthly on-site health screenings and health care support to clients of Autumn West.

Project Bridge will be providing all clients with additional Thanksgiving gift cards for the holiday and are partnering with United Way’s Giving Tree program to ensure all program participants get a special gift in December to celebrate the holidays.



Both programs are seeking new and gently used household items and limited furniture to help participants moving into their own apartments. If you are able to donate, please contact Lajuell Neal at lneal@communityadvocates.net.

For many of us, redesigning a room is all about aesthetics, such as paint color, pillows, blankets, and decorative objects to create the right atmosphere.

But when Karen Delvecchio volunteered to lead a redesign of a room at the Milwaukee Women’s Center Emergency Shelter, her concerns were completely different. The shelter is home to a steady stream of adults and kids who have survived domestic violence or homelessness, and each room must withstand a good amount of wear and tear over time.

"When I got that first phone call and took a tour I thought, 'Sure, I can redecorate it and buy some bedding or carpet and find ways to make the room look nice,'" Delvecchio said. "And then I realized that’s not what the project is about. They didn’t need just decorations. The bedding goes with the families, for example, when they leave the shelter. I had to shift to more structural and permanent changes to make it look and feel better."

Delvecchio wasn’t daunted by the challenge. Although she says she had limited experience doing renovations, she has a lot of leadership experience and the courage to dive into a new challenge. 

On behalf of everyone at Community Advocates and the Milwaukee Women’s Center, we want to thank Karen and her friends for transforming the room into a special place that will enable adults and families to heal and find hope again. 

"Mind blowing" and "humbling" is how Marissa Boston, Tax Foreclosure Advocate at Community Advocates, calls her work with homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure due to delinquent property taxes from the pandemic era.

Community Advocates is partnering on this program with the University of Wisconsin Law School to help struggling homeowners.

Boston helps them to apply for assistance with their bills—typically the Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program and other supports. In just a few months, Community Advocates has prevented five homeowners from losing their homes due to tax foreclosure, and also is reaching out to homeowners who are delinquent on their property taxes, but not yet facing foreclosure.

Community Advocates is a proud partner in the Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program. This program provides vital benefits to eligible county residents during the heating months. To set up an appointment, go to keepwarmmke.org or call 414-270-4MKE (4653). 

Here’s your chance to guide the Milwaukee County ARPA funds designated for family support. Community Advocates Public Policy Institute will analyze the survey responses and use them to inform an RFP for a funding opportunity for family support programming, to be released in late November or early December. Please submit your response by the end of Sunday, November 26. Share the survey widely so we can have a good view of needs in our community.

The administrative offices of Community Advocates will be closed Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24, to observe the Thanksgiving holiday. Community Advocates’ 24/7 programs, the Milwaukee Women’s Center Emergency Shelter and the Autumn West Safe Haven, will remain open during the holiday. If you need help with a domestic violence situation, the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s crisis line is always available at 414-671-6140.

The Bottomless Closet, which provides work-appropriate clothes and gear for job-seekers, is looking for men’s and women’s winter coats and boots. If you have any of these items you can share, please contact Jeri at jkavanaugh@communityadvocates.net or 414-270-2984. Thank you!

A big thank you goes out the Milwaukee Record, whose Roast of Milwaukee in October supported the Milwaukee Women’s Center. A portion of the proceeds went to the center’s guests, who are surviving homelessness and domestic violence. Milwaukee Record has been a strong supporter of the MWC’s work over the years and we’re always grateful for their care and concern. Thank you!

We're very grateful for the staff and customers of the Lowlands Group restaurants, which collected winter coats and gear for individuals and families connected to our Milwaukee Women's Center. The Chili Weather Coat Drive, held at Café Hollander on Downer Avenue on November 18, offered participants a complimentary cup of chili and beverage. We appreciate Lowlands Group's support for community members who need a little extra help this winter. Thank you!

Our Housing Department will help community members in person without an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome at Community Advocates' downtown offices at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee.

• Monday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can also find available rentals in Milwaukee and surrounding areas on our website. We update the listings every week on our website and Facebook page.

We have a number of career opportunities right now. Join our team!



• On-Call Resident Manager
• Seasonal Energy Assistance Advocate
• Shelter Advocate
• Therapeutic Intervention Specialist

Can you help Community Advocates and the Milwaukee Women's Center meet the needs of our program participants? We serve families and individuals who have experienced homelessness or domestic violence, and most of them come into Emergency Shelter or our Autumn West Safe Haven with few belongings. We're currently seeking these items for our guests:

• Winter coats and boots for all ages and genders
• Hoodies for toddlers up to adults
• Jackets of all sizes, from toddlers to adults
• Twin sheets
• Blankets
• Socks, boys and girls, men and women
• New underwear for all ages, from toddlers to adults
• New pillows
• Tennis shoes for boys, girls, men, and women
• New or gently used towels
• School supplies
• Pots and pans, utensils, dishes, blankets, and other household items

If you are able to give, please reach out to Jeri at jkavanaugh@communityadvocates.net to coordinate delivery of your donation. Thank you!

You can get in touch with us in the following ways:

• Call: 414-270-2992
• Email: Contact Us
• Facebook: facebook.com/CommunityAdvocatesMilwaukee
• Milwaukee Women’s Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line: 414-671-6140
• Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program: 414-270-4653 or KeepWarmMKE.org
• FSET at Community Advocates: 414-290-7700
• Rent HelpLine: renthelp@communityadvocates.net
• Bottomless Closet: 414-270-2984
• Emergency services after hours or on weekends: 2-1-1