In 1989, six concerned activists pooled $50 together to created the newspaper Repairers of the Breach, which was written by, for, and about Milwaukee’s homeless men and women.

After reaching a circulation of about 6 thousand, they realised they could do more. Repairers of the Breach was chartered in 1991 as a non-profit, and we have come a long way since our first location (complete with mismatched chairs and a coffee maker) opened at 27th and Wells.

We purchased 1335 W Vliet St in 1997, and we have since expanded to offer several programs besides our daytime shelter, such as our Breach Cafe, Employment Assistance Program, and our Free Medical Clinic. We average thousands of visits per month, and we do so without any government subsidies. This allows us to remain “low barrier,” so that all adults can utilise our services without providing identification or evidence of need.

We offer life-saving, life-sustaining, and life-restoring programs… tools that are life-changing.

Our Members (any adult with a need, usually homeless or at-risk), use these tools diligently and we are often gifted with not only success stories, not only mutual respect and pride, but also a partnership and dedication to our amazing community.

That’s right; many of our former Members volunteer at “the Breach,” helping others out of homelessness and showing them how to succeed.

For you see, Repairers of the Breach is not just a building on Vliet St. It’s the Members, staff, volunteers, donors, neighbors, you, and me. It’s all of us. And we thank you for being a Repairer of the Breach.

Board of Directors