What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

COTS

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Ending Homelessness in the Fox Valley

To donate to COTS, visit www.appletoncots.org COTS, Inc. We treat all people with dignity and respect.

is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization helping individuals experiencing homelessness in the Fox Cities. COTS provides transitional shelter to individuals in Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, and Green Lake counties. Our goal is to end homelessness by enabling individuals to transition to self-sufficiency and stable, independent living. We are home to over 80 individuals on a daily basis. COTS assists residents in their transition to self-sufficiency by providing a safe, affordable place to live, food, hygiene and household needs, and life skills training. We provide Positive Placement planning and ongoing case management to each resident in our program for up to two years. We also provide three years of Positive Placement (aftercare) Services following the resident’s successful transition to other safe and stable housing.

10/15/2026

💙 Help COTS Keep Essential Period Products Stocked! 💙

Tampons are a medically necessary product, yet their cost can be a real financial burden for individuals already working hard to overcome homelessness.

At COTS, we believe that meeting basic needs means more than having a roof over your head. Access to period products allows our residents to go to work, focus on their goals, and move through their day with dignity and confidence. No one should have to choose between purchasing essential hygiene products and paying for other necessities.

🩷 Can you help? We are asking our amazing community to donate tampons to help keep these essential products available to our residents when they need them.

📍 Drop off donations at any COTS facility.

📦 Prefer to shop from home? Order directly from our Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2MEY1UASIR8NW?ref_=wl_share

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference! Thank you for helping us meet our residents' basic needs and supporting them as they work toward independence.

Together, we CAN end homelessness! 💙

10/14/2026

💙 A Big Thank You to the Prospera Credit Union - Wisconsin Team! 💙

We are so grateful to the Prospera team for rolling up their sleeves and spending hours staining the fence at our COTS Women’s Shelter! Their hard work will help protect the fence and keep our property looking its best for the residents who call COTS home.

We are especially thankful for the continued support Prospera has shown COTS throughout the years. Having community partners who are willing to give their time, energy, and talents makes such a difference in our mission to end homelessness in the Fox Valley.

Thank you, Prospera, for being part of the COTS family and for showing what it means to be a community that cares! 💙

Together, we CAN end homelessness! 🏡

10/13/2026

💙 Thank You, Faith Lutheran Church! 💙

A heartfelt thank you to Faith Lutheran Church for including COTS in their Faith in Action Community Service Day on October 3rd!

As part of their day of service, Faith Lutheran members delivered meals to our COTS shelters, sharing not only food but also kindness and care with our residents. What a wonderful way to put faith into action and show love for our community!

We are so grateful for community partners who take the time to make a difference in the lives of our residents. Every meal delivered is a reminder that our neighbors care and that we are stronger when we come together.

Thank you, Faith Lutheran, for being part of the COTS family! 💙

Together, we CAN end homelessness! 🏡

10/08/2026

🎉 EXCITING NEWS AT COTS! 🎉

One of our residents who has been working hard to build the skills and confidence needed to obtain employment just got a job! 🙌💙

He was so excited about the news that he couldn't wait to share it with everyone at the shelter! His hard work, determination, and commitment to building a brighter future have truly paid off.

We are incredibly proud of him and excited to see where this next step takes him. Congratulations! You worked hard for this, and you earned it! 👏🎉

At COTS, we celebrate these milestones because every step toward stability and independence matters.

Hard work definitely pays off! 💙🏡

10/07/2026

🏡💙 Celebrating a New Beginning! 💙🏡

This past week, we had the joy of celebrating a COTS resident as he moved into his very own apartment! 🎉

He has worked incredibly hard to overcome the barriers that brought him to experience homelessness. During his time at COTS, he completed all required programming, connected with the VA and other community services, and showed an incredible commitment to building a stable future.

He also proved to a local employer what a dedicated and hardworking employee he can be, and he is continuing to work toward earning his driver’s license. Along the way, he has been someone our staff and other residents could count on. He was always willing to lend a helping hand around the shelter, and he will be greatly missed!

We are so proud of the progress he has made and excited to watch him continue to grow as he begins this next chapter. This is what COTS is all about: helping people move from homelessness to stability and into a place they can proudly call home. 💙

Congratulations on your new home! We are cheering you on every step of the way! 🎉🏡

10/06/2026

💙 A Gift of Warmth and Love 💙

A huge THANK YOU to Lynn and Joan for delivering 12 beautiful quilts to COTS from Bethany Lutheran Church - Kaukauna, Wisconsin! 🧵💙

These quilts are extra special because they were lovingly made by hand and blessed before being donated to COTS. Lynn and Joan were so excited to deliver them and share the warmth and care of their church community with our residents as we head into the cold winter months. ❄️🧣

Every stitch represents kindness, generosity, and a reminder to our residents that their community cares about them. We are so grateful for this beautiful gift!

Thank you, Bethany Lutheran Church, Lynn, and Joan, for helping keep our residents warm this winter! 🏡💙🧵

10/01/2026

💙 Partnership That Makes a Difference 💙

We were so grateful to welcome representatives from the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region to the COTS Women’s Shelter this week!

Their visit gave them an opportunity to see firsthand how their generous grant support is making a difference for women at COTS and to experience a glimpse of what a day in the life of our residents looks like. They asked thoughtful questions and took the time to better understand the challenges and needs facing our community.

We are incredibly thankful for the Women’s Fund and their investment in the women we serve. Support like this allows COTS to provide not only safe housing, but the resources, stability, and support residents need as they work toward independent living.

Thank you for believing in our residents and partnering with COTS to help make a lasting difference! 💙🏡

09/30/2026

💙 Thank You, Community Church Oshkosh! 💙

We are so grateful to the amazing group from Community Church Oshkosh who spent Sunday, September 27th, at Oshkosh COTS as part of the 6th Annual Serve the City event!

The group spent the day giving our outdoor spaces some much-needed TLC. They cleaned up our rock beds, removed weeds and debris, and even took down and removed a shrub. They did an incredible job, and the difference is amazing! 🌿✨

We are incredibly grateful that Community Church Oshkosh chose COTS as one of the organizations to serve this year. Your willingness to roll up your sleeves and give your time is a wonderful gift to our residents and our COTS community.

Thank you for serving, caring, and helping make COTS feel like home! 💙🏡

09/29/2026

💙 Celebrating a 180° Turn! 💙

Today was a special day at COTS as two of our residents received the 180° Award from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Division of Community Corrections. 🎉

The 180° Award recognizes individuals on community supervision who have made a significant change in their lives and demonstrated dedication to recovery, sobriety, employment, and successfully rebuilding their lives in the community.

We are incredibly proud of these two residents and the hard work they have put into creating a different future for themselves. Their journey is a powerful reminder that people can change, overcome obstacles, and build a new path forward.

At COTS, we have the privilege of walking alongside residents as they work toward stability, independence, and a brighter future. Today, we celebrate these two individuals and the tremendous progress they have made.

Congratulations on your 180° turn! We are so proud of you! 💙👏

09/24/2026

💙 Thankful Thursday! 💙

Today, we are incredibly thankful for our amazing COTS Meal Ministers! 🍽️

These generous volunteers give their time to prepare and deliver delicious meals for our residents. More than just a meal, their kindness is a reminder to our residents that their community cares about them. We truly believe a meal is a hug from the community! 🤗

The photo shows just a few of the wonderful Meal Ministers who serve COTS. There are so many more who faithfully give their time throughout the year, and we are so grateful for every one of you!

Want to become a COTS Meal Minister? Visit our website to see the available dates and choose a day that works for you. Your meal could make someone's day a little brighter! 💙

Learn more and sign up to be a Meal Minister: https://appletoncots.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Thank you, Meal Ministers, for filling our shelters with good food, kindness, and community! 🏡💙

Address

819 S West Avenue
Appleton, WI
54915

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19207343609

Website

http://www.appletoncots.org/

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