Social Enterprise – Winner
Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization Inc.
2000 De Koven Ave., Unit 1, Racine
Since 2010, chronic homelessness in Racine County has dropped from 8 percent of those living in poverty to less than 1 percent, thanks in large part to Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization Inc.
HALO is Racine County’s only full-service homeless shelter serving men, women and children. In 2015, the organization revamped its mission and is now dedicated to providing its participants a pathway to self-sufficiency.
HALO provides shelter to those in need, but offers goal-oriented, individualized support and programming.
Since 2005, HALO has helped more than 2,500 adults return to stable housing with enough income and savings to support themselves.
All programs and services at the organization are client-centered and accountability-based.
There’s no time limit for program participants as long as they follow shelter rules, remain clean and sober, and are actively working toward their self-sufficiency goals.
In keeping with the spirit of self-sufficiency, HALO has also introduced five new programs in the past five years that not only support the organization’s mission, but also bring in added revenue.
In 2013, HALO launched Recipe for Success, a program in which small startup food-based businesses rent out the kitchen space in HALO’s men’s shelter, while also supporting HALO’s self-sufficiency program participants.
Recipe for Success brought in $13,000 for the organization in 2015, and offers job training, food safety workshops and cooking classes.
The organization also is home to Racine’s only urban food-growing community supported agriculture program, serving HALO clients and low-income families throughout the community. The program brought in more than $9,000 in revenue in 2015.
In addition, the nonprofit operates the HALO Childcare Center and the HALO Housing Rehabilitation Program, which supports the organization’s housing needs but also revitalizes urban neighborhoods throughout Racine. The program brings in approximately $15,000 per building for HALO. Three former HALO residents have gained full-time employment with the Rehabilitation Program, as well.
In addition to adding revenue and job training opportunities for HALO participants, these programs bring new faces into the shelter and spread awareness of HALO’s programs and services.
