Our Impact

• Children do better in school and have better mental and physical health outcomes when they are food secure.
• Families in stable housing avoid eviction and frequent moves, which allows children to stay in their schools and have better education and health outcomes.

of renters in Dane County pay more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. Renters of color are disproportionately affected by this cost burden.

sources: U.S. Census, American Community Survey (2022); Dane County Housing Initiative

• 9.2% of Dane County residents
• 12.6% of children
• 22% of Latino residents
• 28% of Black residents

source: Mind the Meal Gap (Feeding America, 2022)

• Provide access to culturally diverse, nutritious food.
• Food pantry open to all Dane County residents.
• People can access the pantry as often as they need, five days a week.
• Also provide food through deliveries, mobile food pantries, and partnerships with the Middleton-Cross Plains School District.

• Provide case management, referrals, and financial assistance to help people remain in stable housing.
• Focus on critical support that keeps families in their homes so they avoid the trauma of homelessness.
• Connections Program works with families and individuals in doubled-up living situations to locate and move into their own housing.

• Back to School program helps alleviate financial stress for families in our service area.
• Clothing Center offers free clothing and is open to anyone who lives in Dane County.

“Without WayForward, I don’t know where I would be,” says Charmaine, who previously visited WayForward’s food pantry for groceries and took part in our Housing Stability and seasonal programs. That support helped her stretch her budget and cover rent while she pursued a degree at Madison College. She has since launched her own business — Loyal Hearts Home Health Services — to support senior citizens in their homes. “I’ve been a caregiver all my life,” Charmaine says. WayForward’s programs allowed her to maintain stability for her children and pursue her dreams, she says. “There’s not another program that I feel would be as engaged in my life and assist me as much as WayForward has.”