$220,000 Grant Launches New Tenant Success Fund to Reduce Homelessness in Brown County

July 16, 2025 – The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation is bringing community partners together to fund a new initiative addressing homelessness in Brown County. A $220,000 grant from the Foundation’s One Community Fund will launch the Tenant Success Fund, a three-year pilot initiative led by The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay.

The pilot builds on strategies outlined in the Greater Green Bay Blueprint to Prevent and End Homelessness and draws inspiration from successful models in other U.S. communities. While many housing solutions rely on new construction, the Tenant Success Fund focuses on unlocking access to existing rental units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It removes common barriers — such as past evictions, poor credit, or limited rental history — by establishing a dedicated fund that landlords can access to cover potential risks such as missed rent payments or damages, up to $7,000 per household.

Enrolled households will also receive wraparound support, including tenant education courses and up to two years of case management provided in coordination with participating service providers. Landlords already committed to the initiative will also engage in regular check-ins and conflict resolution support. Together, these partnerships create a collaborative model of care designed to promote housing stability and strengthen relationships between tenants and landlords.

Generous co-investments by Tweet Garot Mechanical, an anonymous donor, and community contributions to the One Community Fund turned a promising idea into a fully funded initiative — demonstrating the strength of collective investment in community-driven solutions.

“The One Community Fund was created for exactly this purpose — to unite community support around critical needs and turn promising ideas into action.” said Dennis Buehler, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. “This initiative reflects what’s possible when people, ideas, and resources come together.”

The most recent State of Homelessness report for Brown County underscores both the urgency and the potential impact of the fund:

• The number of people experiencing homelessness grew by 15% between January 2022 and January 2025 — from 558 to 643 children and adults. The Tenant Success Fund aims to reverse this trend by helping high-barrier individuals secure and maintain stable housing.
• During that same period, unsheltered homelessness — people living in cars, tents, or on the streets — nearly tripled. By connecting households to available rental units and freeing up shelter space, the program is expected to reduce the number of people living without shelter.
• From 2020 to 2024, the average length of time someone remained homeless increased by 57%, rising to 84.6 days. With case management, tenant education, and coordinated support, the Tenant Success Fund will work to shorten the time it takes to find and keep housing.

The pilot program is expected to launch in early 2026 and will serve a minimum of 10 households, with a plan in place to support long-term sustainability and potential future expansion.

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation launched the One Community Fund in July 2024 as a new tool for responding quickly and collectively to critical needs. It allows everyone to contribute — at any level — to building a stronger, more connected community. With this latest grant, the fund has so far committed a total of $370,000 to support collaborative solutions to childcare, housing, and youth mental health.

For more information about critical community needs and opportunities to make a difference, visit ggbcf.org/community-needs.