Wisconsin Rent Relief: Where to Get Help With Rent Now That WERA Has Closed

Wisconsin rent relief after WERA

WERA used federal emergency rental assistance money to pay rent and utilities for many thousands of Wisconsin households. The state stopped taking new applications in early 2023 when funds ran low. A related program for homeowners, Wisconsin Help for Homeowners, closed on March 8, 2024, according to the Department of Administration.

That means there is no single statewide rent fund open to every renter right now. Instead, help depends on who you are and where you live. The table below shows the main options and who each one serves.

For a national view of programs that are still open, see our guide to rent relief programs.

Emergency Assistance for families with children

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families runs Emergency Assistance (EA) for needy families facing a current emergency. Covered emergencies include impending homelessness, homelessness, an energy crisis, and fire, flood, or natural disaster. You apply through the W-2 agency that serves your county.

The main rules, based on DCF’s program page and the state administrative code (DCF 120), are:

• A child in the home: you must be a parent or a relative caring for a child under 18.
• Income: household gross income at or below 115% of the federal poverty line.
• Assets: combined equity of assets up to $2,500, with some vehicle equity excluded.
• Frequency: a family can get EA only once in a 12-month period.
• What it pays for rent: for impending homelessness, the need counted is unpaid rent plus related late fees and court costs, and the payment is limited by a per-person maximum that depends on family size.

The code sets per-person caps that fall as family size grows, such as $400 per person for a three-person family and $300 per person for a family of four. The state can change these amounts, so ask the W-2 agency for the current figure before you count on it.

Apply as soon as you get an eviction notice. EA is meant to keep a family housed, so you may need to show that the payment will let you stay or move into a place you can afford.

Community action agencies and local funds

Wisconsin has a network of community action agencies that cover every county. The state association, WISCAP, lists them. These agencies often run housing counseling, homelessness prevention, and energy assistance, and some hold small rent funds through the year.

Some counties and cities kept their own rent help going after WERA ended, such as programs in Milwaukee and Dane counties, but those funds open and close based on budgets. Call your county human services department and ask whether an eviction prevention or rental assistance fund is open now.

Charities fill gaps too. The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Saint Vincent de Paul conferences often pay part of a rent bill when you show a notice. Many can only cover a portion, so ask whether they can combine with another agency’s payment.

Using 211 Wisconsin

211 Wisconsin is a free, confidential referral line. Dial 211 or search online to find rent help, shelters, food pantries, and utility programs near you. Tell the specialist your ZIP code, how much rent you owe, and any court date. Ask specifically about homelessness prevention and coordinated entry, which is how many federally funded prevention programs take referrals.

Eviction notice rules in Wisconsin

Your notice sets your timeline, so read it closely. Wisconsin Statute 704.17 sets the notices a landlord must give when rent is unpaid. In general:

These are summaries, not legal advice. Check the statute or ask legal aid about your exact lease. A notice is not an eviction. Only a court can order an eviction, and the landlord must file a case and win it first. A landlord cannot legally lock you out or shut off your utilities to force you out.

If you can pay within the notice period, even with help from several agencies, get a receipt and keep a copy of everything.

Free legal help for tenants

If you receive a summons, go to the court date. Missing it usually means the landlord wins by default. Legal Action of Wisconsin provides free civil legal help to low-income people in much of the state, and other legal aid groups and tenant resource centers serve some areas. Some courts also have eviction mediation or a volunteer lawyer table on hearing days.

A lawyer can check whether the notice was correct, whether your landlord accepted rent after the notice, and whether you can reach an agreement to stay with a payment plan.

Freeing up rent money with energy help

Paying for heat and lights can be what leaves rent short. The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) is the state’s LIHEAP program. For the 2026 program year, the LIHEAP Clearinghouse profile for Wisconsin lists heating benefits from $30 to $2,147, crisis help up to $1,200, income eligibility at 60% of state median income, and a season of October 1 to May 15. Its public inquiry line is 1-866-432-8947. Our Wisconsin utility relief guide explains how to apply.

Other benefits that ease the rent

• FoodShare: Wisconsin’s SNAP program; your rent counts as a shelter cost and can raise your benefit.
• W-2: Wisconsin’s TANF work program for parents, run by the same W-2 agencies that handle EA.
• Unemployment insurance: if you lost your job through no fault of your own, file a claim with the Department of Workforce Development right away.
• Housing vouchers: local housing authorities run Housing Choice Vouchers; waitlists are often long, but it is worth getting on them.

For a wider list of state programs, see our guide to Wisconsin hardship relief.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

What to do this week, step by step

1. Read your notice and write down the type of notice and the deadline.
2. Dial 211 and ask which rent and prevention funds are open in your county.
3. Call your community action agency and county human services.
4. Ask your W-2 agency about Emergency Assistance if you have a child under 18.
5. Talk to your landlord in writing; say help is pending and propose a payment plan.
6. Contact legal aid if you get a summons, and attend every court date.
7. Apply for WHEAP and FoodShare to free up money for rent going forward.

Related guides

• Wisconsin assistance programs
• Wisconsin mortgage relief program
• Emergency rental assistance for eviction
• Catholic Charities rent assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Program rules and funding change. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the State of Wisconsin or any government agency.