$25 Million in Wisconsin COVID-19 Rent Assistance Made Available

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin residents who lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic can get help paying their rent under a new $25 million program Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday.

Funding for the rental assistance program comes from the federal coronavirus relief bill. Money available under the program can be used to help pay for rent and security deposits. To qualify, an applicant must be a Wisconsin resident with a household income at or below 80% of the county’s median income.

In Dane County, the income cut-off would be around $50,000. In Milwaukee County, it would be around $39,000 and in Brown County, it would be around $49,000.

Assistance can be up to $3,000, which is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant. The state was partnering with Wisconsin Community Action Program Association member agencies to accept applications and distribute assistance.

Evers said the program “will hopefully provide peace of mind to a lot of people, as well as a reminder to them that we are all in this together. They have not been forgotten.”

Evers on Tuesday announced plans for spending $1 billion in federal aid, primarily on testing, contact tracing, acquisition of supplies, emergency operations, and resources for local communities.