Governor Evers Announces Over 48,000 Households Received Emergency Rental Assistance

Monday, October 3rd, 2022 -- 9:01 AM

Gov. Tony Evers announced that more than 48,000 households have received assistance from the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance program, surpassing $200 million in rent and utility payments statewide.

The federally funded WERA program provides up to 18 months of financial assistance for current and overdue payments of rent and utilities, including water, electricity, gas and internet, and has been an instrumental tool in helping families maintain housing despite financial hardships related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Evers first announced the WERA program in February 2021. The program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration and is funded by the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program through the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The counties of Brown, Dane, Milwaukee, and Waukesha, as well as the cities of Madison and Milwaukee, operate their own emergency rental assistance programs.

The WERA program is open to Wisconsin residents who demonstrate a risk for experiencing housing instability, who have seen their income impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and who earn a household income at or below 80 percent of the county median income.

Rental and utility assistance payments are made directly to the landlord or utility provider on behalf of the tenant. More information is available at doa.wi.gov/Pages/WERA.aspx.

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