County Gets $10 Million For Housing Assistance
County Executive Crowley calls on Congress to pass $1.9 trillion COVID-19 response.
Milwaukee County was recently allocated an additional $10 million in federal funding for housing assistance.
These funds come from the stimulus bill passed by Congress earlier this month, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. That legislation included $25 billion for direct housing assistance.
Crowley said the new funding was “great news,” but added “at the current rate of spending, we only anticipate having these funds up until the middle of the year.”
In this Crowley echoed housing advocates that say the assistance is helpful, but it isn’t enough.
In the past week there were at least 189 evictions filed in Milwaukee County, according to data from Princeton University’s eviction lab. Evictions continue to have a hugely disproportionate impact on Black renters in the county.
Crowley pointed to the fact that the funding is projected to quickly run out as proof that “there’s really a need for more funding to meet the full needs of everybody here in Milwaukee County.”
In June, Crowley put $10 million of CARES Act funding into eviction prevention. The county partnered with local organizations like Community Advocates and Hope House of Milwaukee to process and administer the rental assistance.
Despite evictions persisting, the county has had some success with housing assistance during the pandemic. In October, the Milwaukee County Housing Division provided a report to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors showing that the rental assistance had prevented 1,700 evictions in the county.
The federal eviction moratorium was recently extended to March 31st. But tenants are not automatically protected by the moratorium. They must give their landlord a signed declaration form stating that they cannot pay their rent.
Crowley has also called upon Congress to pass the American Rescue Plan — the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 response legislation from President Joe Biden.
The plan includes $350 billion earmarked for local governments. “It can’t be overstated how great the need is for resources, to not only support Milwaukee County employees, but also to provide critical county services that many of our residents rely on,” Crowley said.
More about the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Milwaukee County Announces New Policies Related to COVID-19 Pandemic - County Executive David Crowley - May 9th, 2023
- DHS Details End of Emergency COVID-19 Response - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Apr 26th, 2023
- Milwaukee Health Department Announces Upcoming Changes to COVID-19 Services - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Mar 17th, 2023
- Fitzgerald Applauds Passage of COVID-19 Origin Act - U.S. Rep Scott Fitzgerald - Mar 10th, 2023
- DHS Expands Free COVID-19 Testing Program - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Feb 10th, 2023
- MKE County: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rising - Graham Kilmer - Jan 16th, 2023
- Not Enough Getting Bivalent Booster Shots, State Health Officials Warn - Gaby Vinick - Dec 26th, 2022
- Nearly All Wisconsinites Age 6 Months and Older Now Eligible for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Dec 15th, 2022
- City of Milwaukee Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Update - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Dec 9th, 2022
- MKE County: COVID-19 Disease Burden Remains Stable - Graham Kilmer - Nov 25th, 2022
Read more about Coronavirus Pandemic here
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