It might sound unbelievable, but there are people living on the streets in Waukesha County.

Fred Schnook,  the Executive Director of the Community Action Coalition has seen them.

"Poverty is often hidden. We do a good job in our country of trying to take care of the poor. But hiding it. We no longer have people selling apples on the street. There are tent cities all over Waukesha County."

Founded in 1966, Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. (CAC) has created and operated a wide variety of programs aligned with our mission. 

"The fact of the matter is what we see is people who are working minimum wage jobs, have one or two kids and they just can't by and end  up losing their apartments," explained Schnook.

Many of the folks who do community gardens give food to CAC for pantries.

People donate clothes or coats in winter.

"It's a hand up," insists Schnook. "When we can case manage people and develop a plan to move them into the middle class is where we have the biggest success."

Government funding does help but there isn't enough.

Schnook says it's  been curtailed over the past 35 years. rely heavy on volunteers and donations.

But he believes strongly in the programs developed by CAC that are setting a tone of dignity while someone in a struggle works their way into life sustaining skills.

"I'm a former participant. I'm from West Allis. I was trained on Allis Chalmers Machines. When the big recessions hit in the 1990's, I couldn't find a job. You never know who gets impacted."

For more information on the Community Action Coalition click here