Walkin In My Shoes

What Walkin In My Shoes does

Walkin' In My Shoes is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin, founded in July 2005 by Jo A Wynn following her personal experience of homelessness. The organization operates 13 distinct social service programs targeting homeless and at-risk populations in Kenosha who are turned away from emergency shelters — including single adults, youth aging out of foster care, individuals with pets, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and grandparents raising grandchildren. Since 2005, it has helped more than 10,500 individuals and families obtain housing assistance.

The service portfolio spans street outreach (via the nationally claimed first-of-its-kind Survival Backpack program), 24-hour emergency housing assistance, youth drop-in services, veterans' horticultural therapy, post-incarceration reentry support, a community garden, healthy living programs, and a boutique providing clothing to those experiencing homelessness. Programs are delivered through street outreach, drop-in centers, case management, and partnerships with social services, schools, churches, law enforcement, the Kenosha County Detention Center, and the Veterans Administration Medical Clinic.

The organization operates on a donations-based revenue model with no products or services sold; beneficiaries receive all programming free of charge. Funding flows from individual monetary donations processed via PayPal, Benevity, YourCause, eBay Giving, and Zeffy.com, supplemented by in-kind contributions of clothing, food, and hygiene items, and grassroots fundraising drives (lemonade stands, yard sales, recycling drives, 'Spare Change' / 'Pennies From Heaven'). No proprietary technology platform exists; operations rely on a standard website, email, and third-party payment processors. The Kenosha headquarters operates with limited hours (Thursdays 9 AM–1 PM) and does not accept walk-ins, consistent with a lean, volunteer-supported operational footprint.

Name

Walkin In My Shoes

Legal name

Walkin' In My Shoes, Inc.

Website

https://walkininmyshoes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Walkin' In My Shoes is a Kenosha, Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates 13 social service programs for homeless and at-risk populations, including street outreach, youth housing, veterans' services, and reentry support, funded entirely through donations and in-kind contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

Keywords

• Homeless outreach services
• Emergency housing assistance
• Basic needs support
• Youth shelter programs
• Veteran support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenosha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and raises funds primarily through monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and community supporters. Donations are accepted via PayPal, mail, and in-kind contributions of clothing, furniture, food, hygiene items, and other necessities. The organization also runs fundraising campaigns such as Lemonade Stands, yard sales, recycling drives, and the 'Spare Change' / 'Pennies From Heaven' drive.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Walkin' In My Shoes is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit charitable organization that delivers direct outreach, basic-needs distribution, and wraparound support services to homeless and at-risk individuals and families in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Its portfolio includes survival backpack distribution on the streets, youth drop-in and housing services, veteran horticultural therapy, reentry assistance for formerly incarcerated individuals, household furnishings for those transitioning into permanent housing, community gardens, and wellness programming. All services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded entirely through monetary and in-kind donations.

Product overview

Walkin' In My Shoes is a nonprofit charitable organization operating 13 distinct social service programs focused on decreasing homelessness in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio including street outreach with survival backpacks, youth drop-in centers, housing assistance, veterans services, community gardens, and emergency assistance programs. The programs serve diverse populations including homeless youth, veterans, seniors, families, and formerly incarcerated individuals, providing wraparound services from emergency intervention through permanent housing placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AT THE DOOR Program Provides basic household essentials and furnishings to individuals and families who have moved from homelessness into permanent housing, helping turn empty spaces into homes.
• Street Outreach Survival Backpack Program Provides survival backpacks containing sleeping bags, water, food, homeless ID cards, and community resource referrals to unsheltered individuals living on the streets.
• Ida's House Youth Program Connects homeless youth with emergency shelter and housing, assists with school enrollment, clothing, IDs, birth certificates, and employment documentation. Includes a drop-in center with computer access.
• Healthy Livin' Preventive Outreach Program Encourages wellness care for homeless individuals, providing assistance for obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure with prescription medications, multivitamins, fitness center enrollment, and Fitbit bracelets.
• In The Hands of Hope Aftercare Outreach Program Works with incarcerated homeless individuals at the Kenosha County Detention Center to create discharge action plans, providing community resources and referrals for successful reintegration.
• Steppin' Up Grandparents Program Assists grandparents raising grandchildren by providing school uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, food, personal care items, and community service referrals.
• Opening Doors Homeless Youth Drop-In Center Provides youth with individual assessments, life coaching, case management, housing placement, meals, clothing, computer access for eSchool, and transportation assistance.
• Taylor Gabbylill Boutique for the Homeless Provides complete clothing wardrobes, shoes, and accessories to enrolled individuals and families, as well as disaster-affected community residents.
• Seed to Harvest Community Garden Educational community garden teaching youth, families, and residents how to grow all-natural foods, with free gardening materials and environmental composting education.
• Caden's Kitchen Cooking Class & Crafts Program Cooking instruction program using produce from the community garden, teaching healthy meal preparation and eliminating processed foods while providing cookbooks and kitchen supplies.
• Tranquility Veterans Garden Horticultural therapy and botanical garden for military personnel and veterans in collaboration with the Veterans Administration Medical Clinic, including PTSD support, recovery programs, and family activities.
• Bunker's Coffee House for Vets Ongoing food and personal care item distribution program for active duty military, veterans, and their families on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
• 24 Hours Emergency Housing Assistance Emergency housing assistance and placement for 18-year-old youth aging out of foster care or adopted homes, including the 'Count Me In' campaign.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,500+ individuals and families helped to secure housing since July 2005
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PayPalminorOthersPayPal is used as the primary online payment processor for receiving monetary donations on the Walkin' In My Shoes website. Donations are processed securely through PayPal's payment infrastructure.
• BenevityminorOthersBenevity is a charitable giving platform that enables employee matching donations and corporate giving programs for Walkin' In My Shoes, allowing employers to match employee donations to the organization.
• Zeffy.comminorOthersZeffy.com is referenced as a payment processor option for online donations to Walkin' In My Shoes, providing an alternative to PayPal for donor transactions.
• eBay GivingminorOtherseBay Giving allows buyers to donate a portion of their purchases to Walkin' In My Shoes as a charitable cause, providing a passive fundraising channel.
• YourCauseminorOthersYourCause is a workplace giving platform that enables employees to donate to Walkin' In My Shoes through corporate giving programs, facilitating employee-matched donations.
• Veterans Administration Medical CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalkin' In My Shoes collaborates with the Veterans Administration Medical Clinic on the Tranquility Veterans Garden program, providing horticultural therapy and wellness services for veterans dealing with PTSD, alcohol and substance abuse recovery, and other challenges. The partnership includes referrals to counseling with professional behavioral health providers and housing assistance for homeless veterans.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Family Promise: National 501(c)(3) nonprofit addressing family homelessness through shelter, housing, and prevention programs. Direct peer in homeless services delivery model, though Family Promise operates at substantially larger national scale.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): Regional nonprofit serving homeless individuals through outreach, housing placement, and supportive services in Southern California. Directly comparable in service model to Walkin' In My Shoes's street outreach, case management, and housing placement approach.

Others

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization focused on affordable housing policy and funding. Operates in adjacent housing/homelessness policy space that influences WIMS's operating environment and access to federal homelessness funding.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy and policy organization focused on ending homelessness. While not a direct service provider, it operates in the same homelessness-services ecosystem as WIMS and influences federal funding and policy that affects WIMS's operating environment.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: Large national network of Catholic Charities agencies providing emergency shelter, housing assistance, and social services to homeless and low-income populations. Functions as a broad incumbent in the same social services category with overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Habitat for Humanity: Global nonprofit addressing housing insecurity through affordable home construction, repairs, and advocacy. Operates in adjacent housing/homelessness space with comparable community volunteer and donor-driven model, but with substantially larger scale and global reach.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing housing, reentry support, and veteran services. Operates programs directly comparable to WIMS's veteran, reentry, and homeless support programs, though with significantly broader geographic footprint and budget.
• Salvation Army: International charitable organization providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and basic needs services to homeless populations. Operates emergency shelters, feeding programs, and case management services comparable in mission to Walkin' In My Shoes, but at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Sheltering Arms (similar local homeless service nonprofit): Generic placeholder for comparable local/regional homeless services nonprofits operating with similar grassroots service delivery models in mid-size U.S. cities. Comparable in scale, mission, and community-based operational structure.
• Kenosha Human Development Services: Local Kenosha-area social services nonprofit providing mental health, substance abuse, and housing services to vulnerable populations. Direct geographic peer operating in the same community and serving overlapping beneficiary populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Ml1M88t3cTo&feature=shared
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walkin-in-my-shoes-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Walkin In My Shoes