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Next Steps Family Resilience Center reports 17 of 18 apartments filled, cites housing and service outcomes
Summary
Family Services of Southern Wisconsin told the Rock County Board that the Next Steps Family Resilience Center (Beloit) is fully built and nearly full: 17 of 18 apartments occupied, about 7,000 bed nights provided, and measurable outcomes such as family reunifications and education enrollments.
Kelsey Hood Christensen, president and CEO of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin, updated the Rock County Board on the Next Steps Family Resilience Center on March 12, describing operations, occupancy and outcomes from the ARPA-funded project.
Christensen said the organization purchased the former Roy School in Beloit and completed phase two construction in early 2026. As of her presentation she reported, “we have 17 of our 18 available apartments filled,” and cited roughly 7,000 bed nights provided to date, serving 54 individuals across 16 families during an earlier phase. The program targets unhoused families with at least one child under age eight and uses a progressive-rent model starting at $200 monthly, increasing quarterly, with 50% of increases placed into a resident savings account.
Christensen outlined supportive services co-located on site: a dedicated case manager, financial-literacy advocate, youth-development specialist, mental-health support, and services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. She said the child-care space (designed for 70 slots) is operated by Community Action of Rock and Walworth County; three slots are reserved for residents and Community Action currently had 16 full-time children enrolled, about half under age two.
Early outcomes Christensen highlighted included three family reunifications, five adults entering or returning to college, multiple residents increasing employment or returning to work, and one resident completing nursing school later that month. She noted that some federal grant streams the agency depends on are under legal challenge but were operating under a stay at the time of the presentation.
Board members asked about sustainability and funding; Christensen said the nonprofit launched a capital campaign that included operational support, and the agency is building non-grant revenue (a thrift store in Monroe and private contributions). Several supervisors thanked the agency and expressed support for continued funding in future budgets or grants.
The board did not take a funding vote on the floor but invited continued engagement as the program matures.
