Our mission

To prevent homelessness for local children and families in the greater Whitewater community.

Our vision

Bethel House believes in a community where all families have access to safe and stable housing and are provided the support needed to thrive.

Our history

In 1994, a family practice doctor in Whitewater, WI discovered one of his patients, a single parent with two young children, had spent the winter living in a camper. Although working, she did not have the money for a security deposit or the first month's rent for an apartment. Dr. Ken Kidd's interest in finding a way to help led to the creation of Bethel House.

Joined by fellow founding members Jim Winship, Dick Triebold, Don Triebold, Carole Scharinger, Richard Telfer, and Mark Olm, and the support of six area partner churches, Bethel House housed its first family.

Since that time, Bethel House has grown to house up to seven families at a time, provides an average of $1,750 in emergency assistance support each month, and has helped over 1,000 local families to be safely housed.