Day By Day Shelter

What Day By Day Shelter does

Day By Day Shelter, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a low-barrier emergency shelter in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Founded on October 15, 2011, the organization was established by a coalition of community members to provide safe, temporary shelter for adults experiencing homelessness who often cannot access traditional shelters due to sobriety or background-check requirements. Following a May 2023 expansion into a purpose-built 50-bed facility at 420 Ceape Ave., Day by Day now operates 365 days per year (up from 25 beds open six months of the year), and activates an emergency cold-weather protocol adding 15 beds when temperatures fall below 0°F.

The shelter delivers an integrated suite of direct services: nightly meals (served by volunteer meal teams covering ~80% of the calendar), complimentary laundry processing approximately 1,000 loads per month, hot showers, mental health and AODA counseling via Collaborative Wellness, and individualized case management. Structured programs include the Guest Employment Program (paid part-time roles such as Janitorial Assistant and Laundry Assistant, with 2,098 work hours completed in 2025), financial literacy curricula (Rent Smart, Goodwill Financial Counseling, Fox Communities Credit Union's CU Thrive), and the Phoenix Charles facility-dog program delivered in partnership with Journey Together Service Dog, Inc. In the most recent fiscal year the shelter served nearly 400 individuals, and 8 of 17 Guest Employment Program participants secured housing.

The revenue model is donation- and grant-dependent: approximately 50% of the operating budget comes from individual, corporate, and organizational donations, with the balance from grants (e.g., Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Basic Needs Giving Partnership, United Way) and substantial in-kind volunteer labor (~1,800 volunteers annually contributing over 5,000 logged hours in the prior year). Donor programs include a $100/year Phoenix Charles Canine Club membership, a $5/load Suds Club, $70/night shelter sponsorships, and a "Give a Meal. Make a Day" campaign. Distribution is exclusively direct, on-site at the Oshkosh facility, with referrals drawn from Oshkosh Police, hospitals, and a network of 25+ local partner agencies.

Name

Day By Day Shelter

Legal name

Day By Day Shelter, Inc.

Website

https://daybydayshelter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Day By Day Shelter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 50-bed, year-round low-barrier emergency shelter in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, serving unhoused adults with meals, case management, laundry, a paid Guest Employment Program, and a 25+ agency wraparound-care network funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homeless services
• Case management
• Low-barrier shelter
• Social services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Oshkosh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Day by Day relies on individual donors who contribute monthly or one-time gifts. A gift of $70 provides one night of shelter for a person in need including a warm meal, clean bedding, personal laundry, a hot shower, mental health and AODA support, health support services, and specialized programming.
2. Corporate and Organizational Donations: Corporate and organizational donations constitute part of the nearly 50% of budget that comes from individual, corporate and organizational donations.
3. Grant Funding: The shelter receives grant funding from organizations such as the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation and community foundations. Phoenix Charles was funded through a grant from OACF and donors Charles and Judith Gorham.
4. Volunteer Services (In-Kind): Over 1800 volunteers contribute time annually, serving meals, assisting with operations, and providing services. Meal teams fill the calendar about 80 percent of the year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Day By Day Shelter provides low-barrier temporary emergency shelter (50 beds, 365 days a year) along with meals, showers, laundry, case management, mental health and AODA support, employment assistance, financial literacy programming, and a facility dog program for adults experiencing homelessness in the Oshkosh community. Services are delivered free of charge to guests and are supported by individual donations, corporate gifts, and grants.

Product overview

Day By Day Shelter operates as a low-barrier homeless shelter providing emergency shelter, individualized services, and opportunities for self-sufficiency to empower vulnerable adults. The organization offers a suite of integrated services including 50-bed shelter operations (expanded from 25 beds in May 2023), case management and programming, a Guest Employment Program with paid part-time positions, laundry services (approximately 1,000 loads monthly), the Phoenix Charles facility dog program, emergency cold weather shelter capacity, financial literacy programs (Rent Smart, Goodwill Financial Counseling, Fox Communities CU Thrive), and food services through volunteer meal teams. The organization partners with over 25 local agencies including FoodWIse, Collaborative Wellness, Oshkosh COTS, and Fox Communities Credit Union to provide coordinated wraparound care. Services are designed to help guests move from crisis toward stability and independent living.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services A low-barrier emergency shelter providing 50 beds 365 days per year for adults experiencing homelessness, with no sobriety or background-check requirements. Operated on-site at 420 Ceape Ave., Oshkosh, WI.
• Case Management and Programming Individualized case management connecting guests with mental health and AODA support, employment assistance, housing navigation, healthcare, and long-term stability planning.
• Guest Employment Program A paid part-time work program offering positions including Janitorial Assistant, Donation & Recreation Coordinator, Kitchen Assistant, and Laundry Assistant, enabling guests to build income and job skills.
• Laundry Services Complimentary laundry services for guests including daily personal laundry and bedding/towel laundry, completing approximately 1,000 loads per month. Supported by the Suds Club sponsorship program.
• Phoenix Charles Facility Dog Program A facility dog trained by Journey Together Service Dog, Inc., providing social interaction, recovery motivation, comfort, and support to guests and staff.
• Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Additional shelter capacity for 15 people activated when temperatures drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, providing warm meals, showers, and laundry services.
• Financial Literacy Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 400 individuals served in 2024-2025 fiscal year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Journey Together Service Dog, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Journey Together carefully trains and selects facility dogs for Day by Day. Phoenix Charles was chosen as the perfect dog because he is calm and quiet indoors, affectionate, and motivated by people. The organization considers skills and personality to match dogs with the right jobs.
• Collaborative WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Wellness assists organizations with advocacy, compassion, and enthusiasm. They provide Day by Day guests with group and individual counseling, and work with the Day by Day team through individual support, targeted staff group meetings, and staff professional development.
• FoodWIse (University of Wisconsin-Madison)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoodWIse is a federal program funded by SNAP-Ed and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. They partnered with Day by Day to provide fresh produce from garden beds and cooking classes taught by Kristine Soper, nutrition educator with Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet counties.
• Oshkosh COTScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOshkosh COTS (Coalition for Occupational Opportunity, Training, and Shelter) is a transitional housing facility. Day by Day refers guests to COTS, and staff helped Dwight get accepted into the program where he performed over 1,000 service hours.
• Curative ConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Day by Day mentioned in the context of Dwight's journey to recovery and stability.
• Fox Communities Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the CU Thrive program, Fox Communities Credit Union offers regular classes covering budgeting, saving strategies, credit repair, and the basics of retirement and investing. Gerardo serves as CU Thrive Program Manager. Fox CU also provides financial education to staff.
• GoodwillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwill provides financial counseling services, connecting guests one-on-one with trained counselors on an ongoing, as-needed basis covering budgeting, saving strategies, credit understanding and repair.
• AmeripriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriprise financial advisors conduct financial planning and budgeting workshops for Day by Day guests.
• Ebb and Flow CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEbb and Flow Cooperative presents Living Room Chats at Day by Day, providing educational programming for guests.
• Becket's RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBecket's Restaurant donates the use of their atrium and patio for the annual Pups on the Runway event, a fashion show featuring rescue dogs to raise money for Phoenix Charles.
• Oshkosh Area United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOshkosh Area United Way's annual Day of Caring brings volunteers to complete projects at Day by Day. The organization also helps connect Day by Day with volunteers, community resources, and essential supplies through initiatives like the Community Vault.
• NOVA Treatment CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOVA Treatment Center referred Ezell to Solutions Recovery, which then connected him with Day by Day Shelter.
• Solutions RecoveryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolutions Recovery is a recovery community that referred Ezell to Day by Day Shelter and provides ongoing support for individuals in recovery.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army of Oshkosh: National nonprofit with a local Oshkosh presence providing emergency shelter, food, and social services. Comparable in service mix but operates as part of a much broader portfolio of programs.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay: Diocesan social services organization covering the Oshkosh area, offering housing and homelessness-related programming. Comparable in mission and geography but with a much broader social services portfolio.

Others

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy and research organization focused on homelessness policy and best practices. Adjacent peer that shapes the funding and policy environment in which Day by Day operates.

Regional players

• Hope House of Milwaukee: Wisconsin-based homeless shelter serving adults with complex needs, including those barred from traditional shelters. Comparable to Day by Day in low-barrier philosophy and adult-focused services, though operating in a larger metro area.
• Shelter House (Dubuque, IA): Mid-sized Upper Midwest homeless shelter providing low-barrier emergency shelter and case management. Comparable in scale, low-barrier model, and small-city geography.
• Family Promise of the Fox Cities: Family-focused emergency shelter and homelessness prevention program serving a region adjacent to Oshkosh. Comparable as a community-based shelter model leveraging volunteer networks, though specializing in families with children.

Direct peers

• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Oshkosh: Local faith-based social services organization in Oshkosh providing emergency assistance and shelter-adjacent support to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Overlaps with Day by Day's mission in the same geographic market.
• Oshkosh COTS (Coalition for Occupational Opportunity, Training, and Shelter): Transitional housing and shelter organization operating in the same Oshkosh market; Day by Day directly refers guests to COTS, making them a closely aligned peer along the housing-stability continuum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/daybydayshelter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/day-by-day-warming-shelter-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/daybydaywarmingshelter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Day By Day Shelter