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The Gateway Collective

A New Approach to Housing Stability.

At Gateway Collective, we believe the best time to help is before families lose their footing. That’s why we bring critical services upstream—working to prevent housing instability before it becomes a crisis.

We focus on the families too often overlooked: those earning 50%–100% of the Area Median Income (AMI). They work hard. They keep things going. But one missed paycheck or unexpected expense can push everything off balance.

These are the families most at risk—and yet, they often fall through the cracks of traditional support systems. We’re here to change that.

Because no one should have to hit rock bottom before getting help.
Because prevention works.
And because everyone deserves a fair shot at stability, dignity, and hope.

Safe, stable housing is essential for thriving families and communities

Gateway Collective views housing as a foundational need that supports economic self-sufficiency and well-being.

Empowering families to break the cycle of poverty through resources and support

Gateway Collective combats housing instability by providing tools and opportunities for families to achieve lasting economic mobility and homeownership.

A scalable mission beginning in Green Bay, WI

While starting locally, Gateway Collective intends to create a model that other cities can implement to build strong, resilient communities across the country.

Who we are

We’ve seen what happens when help comes too late. That’s why we’re here to change the timeline.

At Gateway Collective, we’re not new to this work. Our roots run deep—starting at St. John’s Ministries, where we spent years walking alongside individuals and families experiencing homelessness. We listened. We learned. And we saw the patterns: the missed opportunities, the systemic gaps, and the moments when early support could’ve changed everything.

That experience shaped us. Today, we use what we’ve learned to step in sooner—long before families lose their housing, their stability, or their hope.

With more than 50 years of combined experience in the homeless response system, our team knows how to disrupt the cycle—not just with shelter, but with strategy. We offer upstream solutions: personalized case management, financial education, wellness resources, and a steady, trusted presence.

Because we know this for certain:

Waiting for crisis is too late. Prevention works.

And when families are supported early, they don’t just stay housed—they thrive. 

Our four core pillars

1. Proactive, Not Reactive.

We don’t wait for crisis. We work to prevent it.

2. We Don’t Just Build Housing—We Build Home.

Housing is the beginning. Home is the goal.

3. No Conditions. Just Compassion.

Our faith calls us to love our neighbors- no strings attached.

4. Local Problems Need Local Solutions.

Housing instability looks different in every city—so the solutions must too.

Our Calling

We're driven by a singular purpose: to transform communities, uplift families, and create a ripple effect of opportunity that strengthens neighborhoods for generations to come.

Our Vision

We believe the end of housing instability is not a distant dream-it's within reach, and we are relentlessly pursuing it.

Our Values

Purpose-driven Culture, Authentic Community, Relentless Pursuit, Radical Responsibility, and Commitment to Wellbeing

The Gateway Collective

Our "Why"

We are driven by faith. And defined by love.

At Gateway Collective, we’re a group of Christian leaders committed to one simple but radical mission: to love our neighbors well.
That love—freely given, without conditions—is the foundation of everything we do.

We believe every person is made in the image of God and is worthy of dignity, respect, and opportunity. Our work to prevent homelessness and housing instability is rooted in this conviction. Not in charity. Not in superiority. But in the command Jesus gave when asked to name the greatest of all:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
— Matthew 22:37–39

We take that seriously.

We don’t ask anyone to believe a certain way or meet a list of requirements to receive our support. We simply extend the love we’ve been given. Because the love Jesus modeled wasn’t exclusive or earned. It was near. Personal.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
— John 13:35

That’s our why: to love—not in words alone, and not only when it’s easy. But in real, tangible ways—through safe housing, steady support, and a community where no one walks alone.

We believe homelessness is preventable, and we’re here to prove that early, relational support can change everything.

At our flagship site, City Center Lofts in Green Bay, WI, we’ve designed a model that brings affordable, mixed-income housing together with on-site care, financial guidance, and community connection. Residents don’t have to hit rock bottom to access help—and they don’t have to navigate it alone.

We don’t dictate what families need. They tell us. We listen. We stay. And we walk alongside them, at their pace, with compassion and trust.

This is how we love our neighbors.
This is what faith in action looks like.
This is Gateway Collective.

Increased Life Satisfaction

Stabilized Housing Markets

Stronger Regional Economy

Join Us

Meet the Team

CEO

Dr. Alexia Rehn

Dr. Alexia (Lexie) Rehn is deeply passionate about impacting change within systemic issues. She offers a wealth of knowledge concerning homelessness, addiction, and mental health, drawing from her 17 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. Lexie holds a Master of Social Work degree from UW-Milwaukee, and a Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, where her research focused on social connectedness as a pathway to overcoming homelessness. As a foster and adoptive mom, she knows the impact of generational poverty and trauma, identifying how early experiences contribute to risk factors later on. This understanding, combined with her extensive doctoral research, serves as the foundation for calling to create affordable workforce housing.

CFO

Julie Kozak CPA

Julie began her accounting career during her first year of college before graduating Magna Cum Laude from Western Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. She has nearly 40 years of experience in accounting including public accounting, private industry and nonprofit arenas. Her expertise is in financial accounting and business analysis. In her role as Chief Financial Officer, Julie is responsible for payroll, accounting, budgeting and human resources.

Community Resource Advocate

Eugene Smalls, Jr.

Eugene received his undergrad and grad degrees from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and both degrees are in Social Work. He is passionate about helping people see their worth in life and has been able to put this in action working in mental health, homeless youth, at-risk youth, and correctional youth settings. Prior to The gateway Collective, Eugene was a case manager for Family Service TLP, a House Supervisor for Freedom House, and a Case Manager at St. John’s Ministries. As Community Resource Advocate, Eugene will lead our on-site programming and navigate tenants to resources we provide/are available from our partners. Eugene is excited about empowering others and helping them to thrive. When Eugene is not at work, he can be found spending time with his children or enjoying the company of friends/family.

Board of Directors

Officers

  • Bill Kinnard, President
  • Andy Betz, Vice President
  • Pat Gorski, Treasurer
  • Theresa Ostert, Secretary

Directors

  • Katrina Cox
  • Antonio Le
  • Jeff Pittman
  • Angie Sheehan
  • Joe Shefchik
  • Dylan Valentine
  • Samantha Wagner
  • Ted Zieman

Steering Committee

These talented individuals provide strategic direction within our board committees to ensure the we have the skills and expertise from various fields. Thank you to our team for their support!

  • Laurie Timmerman - Associated Bank (retired)
  • Sarah Klapper - Bay Area Workforce Development
  • Aaron Faulkner - Bank First
  • Troy Murphy - Green Bay Community Church
  • Amy Budd - Schneider National
  • Jody Anderson - Bellin Health
  • Patti Bani- Capital Credit Union
  • Joe Simon- DaVinci Insurance Advisors

Our History

Born from experience. Built to prevent.

The Gateway Collective was founded in 2023 as a bold response to a persistent challenge: What if we could prevent homelessness before it begins?

Birthed out of the work of St. John’s Ministries, our team spent years witnessing the toll of housing instability—families arriving at their breaking point, often after falling through every safety net. We knew there had to be a better way. That vision led to the creation of The Gateway Collective: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to address the upstream causes of housing instability by supporting families before crisis hits.

Our Founder and CEO, Dr. Alexia Rehn, built this work on the foundation of her doctoral research, which explored how housing instability and homelessness impact a person’s sense of purpose, identity, and connection. That insight shapes every part of our model today.

Gateway Collective represents an innovative shift in how we respond to poverty and instability—not by continuing to treat the symptoms, but by addressing the root causes.
We’re not just here to respond to crisis. We’re here to stop it from happening in the first place.