Milwaukee County announces $15 million in Emergency Rental Assistance Funds

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services - Housing Services announced receiving $15 million from the U.S Department of the Treasury for the Emergency Rental Assistance program under the American Recovery Program (ERA2). The funds will continue Milwaukee County’s rental assistance program operated in partnership with Community Advocates.

“Thank you to the Evers Administration and U.S. Treasury for continuing to help Milwaukee County make investments in housing security. Housing is key social determinant of health and the Emergency Rental Assistance funds have helped keep thousands of residents in their homes since June of 2020,” said County Executive David Crowley.

Milwaukee County has distributed $65.4 million in ERA2 funds since June 2020 through a partnership with Community Advocates. To date, the program has prevented evictions to 12,000 unique households.

The Right to Counsel program established in 2021 provides free legal representation for low-income households. Thus far, more than 3,000 households have been served by the program. Prior to its creation, less than 3% of tenants had legal representation. Today, one in four residents have representation.

Earlier this year, the County was awarded a $7.5M state grant awarded to build up to 120 new single-family homes in the King Park neighborhood around the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center.

In October the County commenced its plan to invest millions of ARPA funds into developing affordable housing in Milwaukee’s suburbs. In partnership with the Community Develop Alliance, the program recently began seeking developers to build and manage affordable family housing units which must be developed by the end of 2024.

Residents can call the Emergency Rental Assistance Program at 414-270-4646 or visit RenterHelp.org for more information about the application process.