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Building Pathways to Stability: How COTS Helps Women Move Forward

Posted on Nov 10, 2026

A safe place to live is more than a roof overhead. It provides the foundation people need to build stability, maintain employment, strengthen their health, and plan for the future.

Recently, the Women’s Fund visited an Impact Grant partner, COTS, to learn more about the organization’s work supporting individuals experiencing homelessness across the Fox Valley. What we found was a program focused not simply on providing shelter, but on helping people transition to self-sufficiency through accountability, community support, and long-term relationship building. Appleton COTS provides transitional shelter and support services designed to help individuals move toward stable, independent living.

In 2026, the Women’s Fund was proud to support this work through a $5,000 Impact Grant in support of the women’s campus, helping ensure women have access to safe housing, supportive services, and pathways toward long-term stability.

Responding to a Growing Need

The need for housing support continues to grow throughout our community.

According to COTS staff, the organization receives an average of two applications every day, and approximately 40 women are currently on the waiting list for services. Women seeking support arrive from a variety of circumstances. Some are staying in emergency shelters or treatment facilities. Others are living with family members but need a more stable situation, while some are living in their vehicles.

Staff shared that they are increasingly serving individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time. Among them are women in their 50s and 60s who previously maintained stable housing but can no longer keep up with rising housing costs. At the same time, younger adults are entering the program through referrals from schools, foster care systems, and other community organizations.

As the needs of residents evolve, COTS has seen an increase in the complexity of challenges women face, requiring more individualized support and wraparound services than ever before.

More Than a Place to Stay

At its core, COTS is designed to help residents prepare for successful independent living.

Women who enter the program commit to sobriety and active participation in building a more stable future. Residents contribute a monthly program fee of $285 and a $100 security deposit, helping establish budgeting habits that will be essential when they move into independent housing. Assistance is available for those who need help covering these costs.

Participants are expected to complete 40 hours of meaningful activity each week, whether through full-time employment, treatment programs, volunteer work, education, church involvement, or other approved activities. Today, approximately 80% of residents are working full-time.

Residents also share household responsibilities and contribute to the daily operation of the campus. During our visit, staff emphasized that clients work together to create a welcoming environment where everyone can feel at home.

The structure is intentional. It encourages responsibility, accountability, and the development of skills needed to maintain housing long after a resident leaves the program.

Addressing the Barriers Women Face

For many women, securing housing is only part of the challenge.

Staff identified debt, prior evictions, and credit issues as some of the most significant barriers residents encounter when trying to secure permanent housing. Even women earning $18 to $20 per hour often struggle to afford rent while balancing healthcare costs, transportation expenses, insurance, and other necessities.

Transportation can also make or break a person’s path forward.

One unexpected vehicle repair can quickly derail months of progress. A woman may secure employment, begin saving money, and gain momentum toward independence, only to face a setback when a car breaks down and consumes her savings.

To help residents overcome these barriers, COTS has built strong relationships with local employers, landlords, healthcare providers, and community partners. Every resident is connected with healthcare, dental care, and mental health resources, ensuring support extends beyond housing alone.

Support That Continues After Housing

One of the most impressive aspects of the COTS model is its commitment to long-term success.

When residents leave the program and transition into stable housing, their relationship with COTS does not end. Through the organization’s Aftercare Program, former residents can continue receiving support for up to three years.

This support includes assistance with household necessities, resource navigation, and ongoing connection to staff who can help address challenges before they become crises.

The results speak for themselves.

According to COTS, approximately 90% of participants in the Aftercare Program maintain stable housing. That continued investment helps ensure women are equipped not only to obtain housing, but to keep it.

Community Support Makes the Difference

Unlike many organizations, COTS does not rely on federal operating funding and instead depends heavily on grants, community donations, and local partnerships to sustain its work.

Staff shared that operating a residential campus is expensive. While the need for additional shelter space exists, expanding capacity requires both increased staffing and additional facilities.

Yet despite these challenges, COTS remains committed to providing safe, affordable housing and individualized support for those working toward independence.

Community involvement plays an important role. From volunteers who provide meals through the organization’s Meal Ministry to donors who contribute needed household supplies, every act of support helps create a stronger foundation for residents.

Investing in Women’s Stability

The Women’s Fund is proud to support the work of COTS through a 2026 Impact Grant of $5,000, awarded in support of the organization’s women’s campus and the services that help women move from homelessness toward stable, independent living.

During our visit, COTS staff shared that receiving support from the Women’s Fund has meant much more than financial assistance. They noted that funding from the Women’s Fund brought added credibility to their work and affirmed that community leaders recognize the value and impact of their mission.

Staff also spoke about the importance of partnership. Beyond grant funding, they described the Women’s Fund as a resource, connector, and advocate for organizations working to improve outcomes for women. The relationships, encouragement, and shared commitment to strengthening our community have made the Women’s Fund a valued partner on both a professional and human level.

Their feedback serves as a powerful reminder that philanthropy is about more than dollars. It is about building relationships, creating trust, and investing in organizations that are helping women build brighter futures.

Every day, COTS helps women move from uncertainty toward stability, creating pathways to safe housing, meaningful employment, and long-term self-sufficiency. Through community support and strategic partnerships, those pathways continue to grow.

Posted in General, Impact Grant