Officials in Wisconsin announced on Friday that they will no longer accept applications for emergency rental assistance at the end of the month due to a lack of available funds.
The assistance program will end on January 31 at 11:59 pm. Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) program was created in 2021 to assist those whose income was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Faces Insufficient Resources
According to a news release from the Department of Administration, the program has paid out more than $500 million to assist Wisconsin families with rent, water, utility, and internet bills in its nearly two years of operation.
Since its inception in February 2021, the program has reportedly disbursed over $242 million in benefits, assisting over 38,000 households across the state. WERA has distributed a total of $544 million to combat homelessness and pandemic-related financial hardships.
The federal government provided funding for the program, and now Wisconsin’s budget is running low. Although WERA is a statewide program, not all state residents have access to it.
Participating in the program are 68 counties, and 14 organizations are responsible for the distribution of aid funds. Here you can locate the agency that serves your county and reviews eligibility requirements.
Milwaukee, Dane, Brown, and Waukesha counties, as well as the cities of Milwaukee and Madison, have their own emergency rental assistance programs. CACSCW is one of the organizations that facilitate the CORE program in Dane County.
Duddy stated that the CORE program has no plans to cease accepting applications on January 31, but that it will not continue indefinitely.
“For the time being, it is open, but only while funds last, and they are limited,” she explained.
In Wisconsin, there will be additional eviction support and housing stability programs, according to Duddy, who noted that emergency rental assistance programs are winding down.
Alternative For Homeless Residents
While WERA is decreasing, local shelters report that the state’s homeless population remains stable. According to them, the need for assistance is consistent regardless of the availability of assistance.
Andy Collura is the Director of the Homeless Shelter in the Baraboo Area. In the months he has held this position, he has witnessed firsthand the wide range of individuals who utilize shelters. He has also witnessed WERA’s effect on their lives.
Additionally, WERA provides financial assistance to currently housed individuals during difficult times, thereby preventing their eviction.
In addition to more permanent housing options, WERA provides hotel vouchers to individuals awaiting placement in apartments or shelters.
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