Rent Assistance in Wisconsin

Last checked: November 2026. Benefits Explorer is a directory. We do not provide rent money or decide who gets help, and each program makes its own decisions.

The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance program closed to applications on January 31, 2023. The state's Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources now publishes a county map of agencies that list rental assistance, so your county decides who you call.

Milwaukee renters should know that Community Advocates paused new direct rent assistance applications for the city on January 7, 2026, citing limited funding. Its walk-in Rental Housing Resource Center still connects people to mediation and other help. Dane County works differently, using a prevention screening run through the Tenant Resource Center.

Where to Start in Wisconsin

State housing assistance county listings

The state's customer assistance page lets you select your county to see local agencies and phone numbers, including those offering rental assistance. A listing does not show that funds are available today, so ask when you call.

Visit website · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

WISCAP Community Action network

Wisconsin's statewide association of 16 Community Action Agencies and 2 special purpose agencies, Foundation for Rural Housing and UMOS. WISCAP does not take rent applications itself, so use its Find an Agency page to reach your local office.

Visit website · Phone: 608-244-4422 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

W-2 Emergency Assistance

Milwaukee County describes this as a one-time payment toward a housing or utility bill for low-income families facing homelessness. Find your W-2 agency through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

Visit website · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Local Rent Help in Wisconsin

Rental Housing Resource Center (Community Advocates) (Milwaukee)

Direct rent assistance for the City of Milwaukee has been paused for new applicants since January 7, 2026, except tenants facing a placard, fire or domestic violence situation. The center still offers eviction prevention resources, mediation referrals and case management. Walk-in clinic at 728 N. James Lovell Street, Monday through Friday, first come, first served.

Visit website · Phone: 414-895-7368 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Tenant Resource Center prevention screening (Madison and Dane County)

Behind on rent? Its Eviction Prevention Screening shows what help you may qualify for, though the screening itself is not an application for money. The state's listing says the center also provides rental assistance to residents with an eviction court date. The Eviction Diversion and Defense Partnership works from the same office.

Visit website · Phone: 608-257-0006 ext 7 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Hebron Housing Services (Waukesha County)

Listed for rental assistance in the state's Waukesha County entry, as is Family Promise of Waukesha County at 262-968-2321. Community Advocates stopped taking new Waukesha County applications on September 26, 2024, so start with the agencies still listed.

Visit website · Phone: 262-549-8720 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

HALO (Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization) (Racine County)

Listed for rental assistance in the state's Racine entry, along with HOPES Center of Racine at 262-898-2940.

Visit website · Phone: 262-633-3235 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Legal Action eviction defense at the courthouse (Milwaukee, La Crosse and Marathon counties)

Same-day help for tenants with a hearing that day: Milwaukee County Courthouse Room 406 from 12:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; La Crosse Courthouse on Fridays from 8:30 a.m.; Marathon County on Wednesday mornings for brief advice. Spots are limited and representation is not assured.

Visit website · Phone: 855-947-2529 · Accepting applications when last checked

Facing Eviction in Wisconsin?

Under Wis. Stat. 704.17, a notice for unpaid rent on a month-to-month tenancy or a lease of a year or less must give at least 5 days to pay or vacate. A landlord may instead use a 14-day notice to vacate, with no chance to pay, on a month-to-month tenancy or after a repeat nonpayment within a year on a lease. A Legislative Council memo from 2024 lists 30 days with a right to remedy on longer leases. The case then goes to small claims court, where missing the first court date (the return date) or the trial can bring a default judgment; some counties hold the trial that same day, so check local rules. Only the sheriff can carry out a writ of restitution, and landlords may not evict on their own. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Legal Action of Wisconsin. Free legal aid for low-income tenants facing eviction, with intake by phone or online that takes about 20 minutes. Applying does not assure representation, and you will get referrals if your case is not taken. In Milwaukee County, the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee also serves low-income tenants. Visit website · Phone: 855-947-2529

This page is general information, not legal advice. Don't ignore a notice or court papers, because eviction deadlines can be short.

Wisconsin Programs That Have Closed

You may still see these programs online. Check before you spend time on an application.

  • Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA): The state's federally funded rent program. The Department of Administration announced applications would close at 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2023, due to low remaining funds.
  • Community Advocates rent assistance in Waukesha County: Community Advocates says it stopped accepting new direct rental assistance applications in Waukesha County on September 26, 2024.

More Help in Wisconsin

Want other options? See our full rent assistance guide, including how to spot a scam, or see your options. That form is not an application for rent assistance. If you submit it, Benefits Explorer and its partners may contact you.

Wisconsin Rent Assistance Questions

Is WERA still open in Wisconsin?

No. The state announced WERA applications would close on January 31, 2023. Use the state's county listings to find agencies that list rental assistance today.

Can I still get rent help in Milwaukee?

New direct rent applications with Community Advocates have been paused since January 7, 2026, with exceptions for placards, fire and domestic violence. Call the Rental Housing Resource Center at 414-895-7368 to ask about other options, such as mediation.

Can my landlord lock me out in Wisconsin?

No. A 2024 Legislative Council memo says state rules bar self-help eviction, meaning excluding or forcibly removing a tenant outside the court process. The Tenant Resource Center lists changing locks, removing belongings and shutting off power as examples, and suggests calling the sheriff's office for immediate help getting back in.

Rent Assistance in Nearby States

Most programs only help people who live in their state. If you are moving or live near a state line, you can also check:

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