WA-RISE (West Allis – Resources for Independence, Stability & Equity) began with a simple conversation between neighbors in 2025 about the growing needs they were seeing in our community — housing instability, homelessness, food insecurity, and gaps in access to support. What started as a community discussion quickly grew into a shared commitment to create stronger connections, better coordination, and long-term solutions.
Today, WA-RISE is a coalition of neighbors, faith communities, businesses, service providers, and local partners working together to strengthen community stability and support people in need. Through our Engagement, Advocacy, Education, and Communication working groups, we focus on increasing awareness, connecting people to resources, reducing stigma, and building collaborative solutions.
Our mission is simple: every person in West Allis deserves a safe place to live. We believe lasting change happens through listening, relationship-building, and community-driven action rooted in dignity, compassion, and respect.
The work of West Allis - RISE is separated into 4 working groups.
The Advocacy Working Group builds relationships with local, county, and state leaders to promote effective solutions that prevent and reduce homelessness. By engaging elected officials, public agencies, businesses, and community partners, this group works to ensure that policies, practices, and resources support the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors.
The Community Engagement Working Group connects people experiencing homelessness with resources, services, and opportunities for support while creating meaningful ways for community members to get involved. Through outreach events, listening sessions, volunteer opportunities, fundraising efforts, and community partnerships, this group helps turn compassion into action.
The Community Education Working Group helps increase understanding of homelessness by sharing accurate information, addressing common misconceptions, and highlighting the real-life circumstances that can lead to housing instability. Through data, training, and people-centered storytelling, this group works to reduce stigma and build a more informed, compassionate community.
The Communications Working Group ensures that coalition members, community partners, and residents have access to clear, timely, and accurate information about our work. Through social media, newsletters, resource directories, and other communication tools, this group helps raise awareness, strengthen connections, and amplify the coalition’s impact throughout the community.