Walkin' In My Shoes

Walkin' In My Shoes, Inc.'s mission is to decrease the homeless population in the nation by networking with public, private, religious and other organizations to form strong alliances supporting the efforts of those who want to have and who deserve a better life. Walkin' In My Shoes has been in operation since July 2005 with no paid staff.

The founder was just recognized for Gateway Technical College 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award "Reviving the Dream Through Education". In addition the founder was recognized in 2007 for the city of Kenosha and State of Wisconsin- Theodora Youman Citizen Award in recognition of her outstanding community service. Walkin' in My Shoes has facilitated programs that also served over 2,000 street homeless youth, men, women and children. These people safely left the streets of Kenosha, and enter into permanent housing with a 99% success rate, and they have not returned back to the streets.

Walkin' In My Shoes, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization. In 2005, the organization began as a grass-root, community effort led by its founder Jo Wynn. She wanted to respond to the increasing issue of underserved homeless in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Wynn would walk the streets and go into areas where they congregate and provide a listening ear and a hand of compassion. During this time, Wynn would identify three very pressing needs that were not being met by other community organizations.

The three unmet needs she identified were: 1) the number of young people living on the street that were turned away or placed on waiting lists because shelters were at capacity; 2;) the need for housing for homeless youth, and; 3) the lack of information and youth services for youth living on the street.

As an effort to prevent the risk of sexual exploitation of young people, Walkin' In My Shoes established an Survival Backpack Street Outreach Program. The program provides information about prevention services that will link the homeless with immediate emergency shelter assistance and to secure adequate placement within 24 hours. The program was created to reduce the number of homeless youth, on the streets of Kenosha, who were at risk of being sexually abused, exploited or committing crimes to meet their basic needs.