Milwaukee County Renters Should Apply For Rent Help Now: Group

MILWAUKEE, WI — Renters and landlords are being urged to apply for emergency rental assistance funds before the national eviction moratorium ends June 30, according to a statement issued to both Milwaukee and Waukesha county residents.

The Community Action Coalition For South Central Wisconsin announced that Milwaukee and Waukesha county Emergency Rental Assistance Programs are still open for online registration.

According to Waukesha County, the emergency program is funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. It added that the county will receive $12 million from the U.S. Treasury Department to assist qualified tenants for rent and utility costs.

The programs will pay up to 15 months of rent assistance, including up to 12 months of back rent for people who experienced financial hardship during the pandemic, according to the coalition. The program will also pay home energy costs, including utility bills in arrears.

Financial hardship includes losing a job, experiencing reduced wages or contending with illness related to COVID-19, the coalition said.

The following reasons will also qualify renters for the assistance under the programs.

• If people living in a household qualified for unemployment benefits or had their household income reduced.
• If a person experienced significant costs or another financial hardship either directly or indirectly due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• If one or more persons in a household can show a risk of becoming homeless or other housing instability.
• If a household has an income at or below 80 percent of the area median income

Landlords may request assistance on the behalf of tenants who are behind or at risk of falling behind on their rent payments, the coalition said. It added that program payments go directly to landlords and utility companies, not directly to the renter. Successful applications are typically paid out within 10 days.

“Addressing housing instability is critical in advancing health and racial equity for our residents,” said James Mathy, an administrator for the Milwaukee County Housing Division.“We want people to know help is available. Housing is a key social determinant of health. If individuals are evicted, our most vulnerable communities will be impacted the most.”