06/03/2026
This is what collective giving looks like. 💜 💙. Congratulations to FRIENDS, Inc. on receiving a $100,000 Impact100 Greater Milwaukee grant to expand emergency shelter capacity, strengthen survivor safety, and create more opportunities for individuals and families to access support during moments of crisis. We are proud to support transformational projects that create lasting community impact.
FRIENDS, Inc. Awarded $100,000 Grant from Impact100 Greater Milwaukee to Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity for Survivors
West Bend, Wis. — FRIENDS, Inc. is honored to announce it has been awarded a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Greater Milwaukee to support a transformational shelter expansion project that will increase safety, confidentiality, and emergency shelter capacity for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. This investment is especially meaningful as FRIENDS, Inc. is the first Washington County agency in the last 10 years to advance to the finalist phase of Impact100 Greater Milwaukee’s grant process.
For FRIENDS, Inc., this investment will directly support a critical garage renovation project that will allow the agency to expand it’s emergency shelter capacity by adding six additional shelter beds. Once complete, the project is expected to support up to 48 more individuals each year in accessing safe shelter during moments of crisis.
One of the most common misconceptions about domestic violence is that leaving is as simple as walking away. In reality, leaving a violent situation is often one of the most dangerous and complicated times for a survivor. Survivors may be facing threats, financial abuse, fear for their children, lack of transportation, limited housing options, court involvement, employment concerns, and the very real possibility that the person causing harm is actively trying to find them.
In Washington County, FRIENDS, Inc. is the sole provider of domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and advocacy services. When the shelter is full, there is no other domestic violence shelter in the county to refer survivors to. That means when capacity is limited, FRIENDS, Inc. is sometimes forced to tell survivors and families there is no room available at the very moment they are reaching out for safety.
In 2025, FRIENDS, Inc. provided shelter to 171 individuals. During that same year, the agency was unable to accommodate 237 shelter requests due to capacity limitations. Each one of those requests represents a survivor or family reaching out for safety at a critical moment.
“This project is about much more than renovating a building,” said Jesikah Becker, Executive Director of FRIENDS, Inc. “It is about creating safety in the moments when safety matters most. When a survivor reaches out for shelter, they are often doing so after exhausting every other option. This grant gives us the ability to expand our capacity, open more doors, and say yes to more survivors and families when they have nowhere else to go.”
The project will renovate the agency’s current garage space, which is no longer functional for its intended purpose, into a secure and practical space that better supports shelter operations. By moving donations, supplies, and essential storage out of the shelter’s living areas, FRIENDS, Inc. will be able to convert existing space inside the shelter into additional bedrooms.
The renovation will also include adding 2 secure, hidden parking for survivors who arrive at shelter in their own vehicles. For survivors fleeing domestic violence, transportation can be both a lifeline and a risk. Many survivors rely on their vehicles to maintain employment, get children to school, attend court hearings, access medical appointments, and rebuild independence. At the same time, a visible vehicle can increase the risk of being located by an abuser. This project allows FRIENDS, Inc. to address both needs: expanding shelter capacity while also strengthening survivor safety and confidentiality.
“This funding gives us the ability to say yes when yes matters most,” Becker said. “It means more families can be welcomed into shelter. It means more children can sleep in a safe place. It means more survivors can take the next step toward safety to rebuild their lives. Most importantly, it means this investment is going to save lives.”
The $100,000 Impact100 Greater Milwaukee grant marks a significant investment not only in FRIENDS, Inc., but in the safety and well-being of survivors throughout Washington County and the surrounding region.
“Last night was entirely moving,” Becker said. “Every agency that made it to the finalist phase deserved to be in that room, and every project represented meaningful change for our communities. We are deeply grateful that Impact100 Greater Milwaukee chose to invest in FRIENDS, Inc. This investment is going to save lives, and that is what matters most.”
FRIENDS, Inc. extends its deepest gratitude to the members of Impact100 Greater Milwaukee for believing in this project, in the mission of FRIENDS, Inc., and in a safer future for survivors and families.
Community members interested in supporting this life-saving work are encouraged to learn more about ways to get involved through FRIENDS, Inc.’s volunteer and career opportunities.
About FRIENDS, Inc.: FRIENDS, Inc. is the sole provider of domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and advocacy services in Washington County. The agency provides 24/7 crisis response, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, adult advocacy services, children’s advocacy, prevention education, support groups, and community-based advocacy at no cost to survivors.
About Impact100 Greater Milwaukee: Impact100 Greater Milwaukee is a collective giving organization made up of women who combine their philanthropic resources to fund transformational, sustainable change in the Greater Milwaukee community. Through its member-funded grantmaking model, Impact100 Greater Milwaukee awards $100,000 grants to nonprofit organizations serving Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties.
