Preserving Home in Menasha, Together
Preserving Home in Menasha, Together
Across the Fox Cities, the need for safe, stable housing continues to grow. While building new homes is an important part of the solution, there’s another piece that’s just as critical: helping families stay in the homes they already love.
That’s exactly what a new partnership between the City of Menasha and Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity is designed to do.
Together, we are investing in the strength of existing neighborhoods, ensuring more families can remain safe, healthy, and secure in their homes for years to come.
A Partnership Rooted in Community
Through this new collaboration, the City of Menasha is investing $100,000 into a neighborhood revitalization initiative focused on home repair. Fox Cities Habitat is able to expand the impact of those funds by leveraging additional community resources, allowing us to serve even more families.
This pilot program is designed to support homeowners earning below 80% of the area median income, helping address critical repairs that might otherwise be out of reach.
It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when municipalities and nonprofits work together with a shared goal: strengthening communities from the inside out.
As shared during the recent press conference, this partnership was built with the hope that it can serve as a model for other communities looking for meaningful, local solutions to housing challenges.
Karen’s Story
For Karen, Menasha has been home for nearly 30 years.
Over time, her house began to show signs of wear, and the needed exterior repairs felt out of reach and out of budget. In 2019, she received a notice that Fox Cities Habitat’s Rock the Block was coming to her neighborhood and she decided to apply.
Karen qualified for a loan for new siding and a roof, improvements that made a lasting difference in the safety and appearance of her home. Along the way, she experienced the care and support of volunteers and the community to make her home’s repairs possible.
“I really appreciated it.” She said simply.
Today, Karen’s home stands as a reflection of what’s possible when a community comes together.
Her story is just one example of how home repair can restore not only a house, but peace of mind and pride in place.
In a community like Menasha, where growth outward is limited, maintaining existing housing is essential. Many homes have been part of the community for decades, and with time comes the need for repairs. For some homeowners, those repairs can be overwhelming. Costs add up quickly, and necessary updates like roofing, siding, plumbing, or accessibility improvements can feel out of reach.
But these repairs are more than maintenance. They are about safety. About dignity. About making sure families can continue living in the place they call home.
Partnership like this help make that possible.
Hear More from the Community
Hear directly from community leaders and homeowners, including Karen, about the impact of this partnership:
Learn more about our Home Repair Program by clicking here.