THE CAMPAIGN FOR WCS
Rebuilding Lives Through Dignity, Safety & Hope
A $5 MILLION CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Wisconsin Community Services: In the Community for the Community Since 1912
For more than 110 years, Wisconsin Community Services (WCS) has supported individuals living with severe mental health challenges, chronic instability, or poverty. Our mission is to advocate for justice and community safety, providing innovative opportunities for individuals to overcome adversity.
The agency was founded in 1912 as the Wisconsin Chapter of the Society for the Friendless. The sole mission then was to help people who were incarcerated and to assist their families left behind. WCS has evolved through the years, changing its name and expanding populations served in response to growing community needs. A WCS staff of 600 provides more than 60 programs at several locations throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Yet the spirit of “A Friend of the Friendless” remains at the heart of our work today.
Every year, more than 17,000 people living with overlapping challenges including mental health needs, substance use, chronic instability, or poverty come to WCS seeking support, stability, and a partner committed to helping them move toward their goals. For the people we serve, WCS is a key part of their life for anywhere from four years to a lifetime.
This is the work of rebuilding lives. And now, we need our community to help rebuild the space where healing begins.
“Those we serve see WCS as their family. When they feel comfortable and respected, they open up more, leading to better outcomes.”
Zak Talebi, Clinical Coordinator for WCS Community Based Mental Health Programs
ADDRESSING MILWAUKEE’S
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
Milwaukee is in a mental health crisis. In 2023, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services identified mental health as the #1 health issue in Milwaukee County. The economic and personal costs of this crisis are well-documented and can seem overwhelming: from lost economic productivity and higher health care costs to relationship problems, stigma, feelings of hopelessness, and isolation.
As a leader in advancing community-based mental health, WCS has been at the forefront of the response to this mental health crisis since 1980. These services are life-changing for those with severe and persistent mental health needs.
WCS primarily serves individuals in mental health crisis through our Community Based Mental Health Programs, housed on the second floor of the WCS-owned building on West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
AT THIS LOCATION:
400 PEOPLE
are served weekly
100 PEOPLE
walk through our doors every single day
60 WCS STAFF
rely on this space to do their work
Most individuals served live on less than
$15,000 PER YEAR
MORE THAN 60%
are Black, Indigenous, People of Color
“I don’t know what I would do without the help WCS provides. I have no family or friends who support me. I am thankful that I don’t have to traverse my life circumstances solo. I am thankful that I am not all alone.”
Robert, Individual Served by the WCS Community Based Mental Health Programs
WHY THIS
MATTERS
People in these programs spend seven to eight years on average with WCS, and depend on our facility as a one-stop shop for nearly every part of daily life:
These are individuals whose struggles are often unseen. At WCS, we see them clearly, meet them with dignity, and walk alongside them on the path to stability and hope. For the people we serve, this building is more than a clinic. It’s stability, safety, routine, connection, warmth, and dignity.
THE CHALLENGE
WE CANNOT IGNORE
Unfortunately, the physical environment they enter each day is outdated, cramped, and not designed for modern mental health care. The current Community Based Mental Health Programs’ space strains staff, limits functionality, can be triggering, and does not reflect the quality of care or dignity our community deserves. The major issues limiting the ability to deliver the desired results include the following:
“As a leader in the field of providing mental health services for people in underserved communities, Wisconsin Community Services understands the importance of creating
SPACES THAT ARE DIGNIFIED, RESPECTFUL, TRAUMA INFORMED & UPLIFTING
where people can receive the services they need.”
– Clarence Johnson, WCS President and CEO
OUR VISION:
A SPACE WORTHY OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE
To create a space that fully advances our goal to deliver our vital health services, WCS plans a major renovation of the Community Based Mental Health Programs space. The design incorporates input from staff and those served.
The goal of the project is to create a safe, modern, welcoming environment where individuals and staff can heal, work, and thrive. Once completed the renovation will:
Sustain personal dignity
with clean, updated spaces for showers, laundry, and personal care
Improve safety
with layout that reduces stress and supports crisis de-escalation
Support emotional well-being
with natural light, calming design, and areas for privacy
Strengthen staff morale
with functional, healthy workspaces that improve efficiency and effectiveness
Create a true one-stop shop
that integrates care, pharmacy access, counseling, and daily supports under one roof
“We help the most underserved individuals with dignity. We provide opportunities that many people can’t access on their own. That’s a huge benefit for them and for the community.”
Alec Treharne, Benefits Specialist for WCS Community Based Mental Health Programs
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BUILDING A SAFER AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITY
Although WCS receives federal, state, and local government support for its numerous programs, such funding may not be used for this much-needed renovation. For the first time in our history, WCS is launching a $5 million capital campaign and your support is essential. Your gift will create:
A space where 100 people a day are welcomed with dignity
A work environment that sustains 60 dedicated staff
A community resource that lifts up those who are too often overlooked
A model of compassionate mental health care that Milwaukee urgently needs
This is how your generosity changes lives.
This is how you help someone move from crisis to stability.
This is how you build a safer and healthier community.
THIS IS HOW YOU REBUILD HOPE.
THANK YOU
Your gift will make a positive difference in the lives of people most in need of mental health services and will contribute to the safety of our community. You are not just renovating a space. You are rebuilding lives, through dignity, safety, and hope. Your gift to WCS signals your acceptance of this invitation. Thank you!
For additional information, to schedule a tour, or to learn more about naming opportunities, please contact:
Anne Osterwind, WCS Director of Development and Communication
aosterwind@wiscs.org
414-290-0475
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