Operation Welcome Home is a community of mostly Black low-income and homeless people in Madison. We and our allies are organizing:
- To hold agencies and institutions accountable to addressing the root causes of homelessness
- To assert our right to the land in our community and to use public space for the public good
- To build power among poor, black, and currently homeless people so that we — not officials or 'altruists' — speak for ourselves in determining the needs of our community and how best to meet them.
Our main program is a comprehensive, holistic approach to support that puts housing first and then provides a broad array of support and opportunities for growth over the long term. We provide opportunities for:
- Substance abuse recovery
- Building self esteem and mental health
- Community building
- Leadership development and political participation
- Placing people in jobs and creating employment opportunities
A core piece of our innovative model is that growth and transformation must not only occur on an individual level, but also on a community level. Thus, residents are supported as individuals but also in the context of a healthy, vibrant, and supportive community based on love and respect.