Jeri Kavanaugh

Since 1976, Community Advocates has maintained and strengthened its mission to provide low-income Milwaukee individuals and families with advocacy and services to meet their basic needs so they may live in dignity. Community Advocates (CA) offers more than 30 specialized programs for those seeking help with housing, energy assistance, domestic violence, behavioral health issues, disability advocacy, protective payee services, and referrals to other resources within the community. We’re one of the few social service agencies that accepts walk-in clients five days a week. Our belief is that advocacy is more than just helping families and individuals. Advocacy is also about building a community that empowers families and individuals to help themselves. Community Advocates is organized around four main divisions: Basic Needs: Includes our housing department, energy assistance and utilities programs, disability advocacy, and protective payee services. Behavioral Health Services: Our Homeless Outreach Nursing Center, Autumn West Safe Haven, and Project Bridge programs provide a continuum of care and supports for those living with a mental illness while they are experiencing chronic homelessness who want to transition to permanent housing. Milwaukee Women’s Center: Provides emergency shelter and wraparound care to adults and children who are impacted by domestic violence in the home or homelessness, as well as programming for women ages 50+ (the Older Abused Women’s Program), men who want to change their abusive behavior (Nevermore Batterer’s Treatment Program), and job-seekers needing appropriate clothing and job-readiness skills (the Bottomless Closet). Public Policy Institute: Our researchers and advocates promote and implement evidence-based policies that will prevent and reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for individuals and families in Milwaukee. PPI focuses on smart reentry for returning citizens, transitional jobs, substance abuse prevention, tobacco use prevention, positive youth development, and professional training for community members seeking to learn new prevention and coalition-building methods.