BELOIT — Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Inc., has purchased the building at 825 Liberty Avenue in Beloit to develop the Next Step transitional living project for unhoused young children and parents in Rock County. Next Step, which will be located in the now-empty Royce Elementary School, will provide safe, stable housing and on-site quality, affordable child care.

One of the goals of the Next Step project is to provide a safe and stable foundation for families with young children so they can thrive and fully participate in the community, in turn reducing the need for other crisis-based services. 

“A stable foundation is so important for all family members to thrive. Housing instability can negatively impact a child’s ability to learn, develop, and grow. There are many families that want to be productive and contributing members of our community but are unable to do so because they must focus their energy and resources on stabilizing their housing,” said Kelsey Hood Christenson, Director of Survivor Empowerment Services. “We hope this project will serve as a safe and stable place for these families to put the pieces together and move forward with the skills and resources they need to thrive.”

Plans for the Next Step project, which is slated to begin construction this spring, include a 17-unit transitional living program for families with young children. In additional to child care, Next Step will provide trauma-informed supportive services, helping families with a variety of skills critical to their well-being and independence. The services include but are not limited to: parenting and financial counseling; accessing mental and physical health care; and obtaining education and job training. 

Support for the Next Step project has been widespread, according to John Pfleiderer, Family Services’ Executive Director.  

“We are both honored and encouraged by the extent of support this project has received from a diverse group of champions throughout the county,” Pfleiderer said.  “The support we have received from our project partners and from the community-at-large is indicative of the depth of compassion and concern there is for our vulnerable neighbors.”

Upon completion, the project will include a childcare center for newborn- to preschool-age children. The center will serve approximately 20 children of Next Step residents and 50 additional children from low- to moderate-income families. With separate entrances for community and administrative spaces, the facility will also include an outdoor playground for both residents and neighborhood children. 

Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Inc., provides financial planning; parenting support; therapy and counseling; legal advocacy; and community outreach. Its programs include DEFY Domestic Abuse Beloit; Individual & Family Counseling Program; Sexual Assault Recovery Program; Praxis Employee Assistance Program; Youth2Youth 4 Change; and The Neighborhood Resilience Project. 

Family Services is a funded partner of United Way Blackhawk Region and United Way of Green County.