For over 20 years, the COTS program has bridged the gap between emergency/crisis care and independent housing by transitioning individuals experiencing homelessness into self-sufficiency. This success has made an impact to the Fox Valley since 1998 and is now expanding its reach to the Oshkosh community.

Oshkosh had long-identified a gap in services within the housing continuum, causing a continued high reoccurrence percentage. In 2020, COTS agreed to begin expanding its program to respond to the increased need for residents in Winnebago and Green Lake counties

We have partnered with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Winnebago/Oshkosh Housing Authority, and Father Carr’s Place2B to secure sites for our new shelters. We are happy to report that COTS now serves single men and women in the Oshkosh community!

It is important to our team to serve Oshkosh residents in the same capacity as our Fox Valley program. With that in mind, Riverview Gardens expanded its social enterprise by establishing a hydroponics greenhouse in Neenah, allowing Oshkosh COTS residents to participate in ServiceWorks at the farm. In addition, we are working with the downtown Oshkosh BID team to establish a COTS C.A.R.E. (Clean Assess Refresh Enhance) team, which allows our residents to give back to the community.

Our COTS team looks forward to the continued progress and growth of our mission: to end homelessness across the greater Fox Cities.