HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Housing Stability Services

Service Description:
  • Offers personalized support and guidance to help achieve financial stability and improve your housing situation including;
    • Eviction prevention efforts
    • Budgeting Assistance
    • Connections to community and agency resources/programs
    • One-on-one planning, coaching, and financial education
  • Counties served: Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix
Eligibility:
  • At or below 80% CMI annual gross (before taxes or deductions);

County

Household size – 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Barron

53760

61440

69120

76800

82960

89120

95280

101440

107520

Chippewa

56800

64880

72960

81040

87600

94080

100560

107040

113520

Dunn

56400

64480

72560

80560

87040

93520

99920

106400

112800

Pepin

53760

61440

69120

76800

82960

89120

95280

101440

107520

Pierce

73680

84160

94720

105200

113680

122080

130480

138880

147280

Polk

54800

62640

70480

78240

84560

90800

97040

103280

109600

St. Croix

73680

84160

94720

105200

113680

122080

130480

138880

147280
How to Apply:

The Housing Stability program provides comprehensive planning, coaching, and support services to households struggling to find or maintain stable housing. Such services may include customer goal setting, budgeting, landlord mediation, legal services, referrals to other West CAP programs, and connecting customers with other state or local services in the community. 

HOMELESS INTERVENTION

Service Description:
  • Helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness find safe, stable housing solutions.
  • Counties served: Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, or any others in Western Wisconsin
Eligibility:
  • Depends on your homeless situation (see definitions below) and programming available
How to Apply:
No Wrong Door icon

The Homeless InterventionProgram assists individuals and families with no income or low income in achieving housing stability. Through rental assistance, case management, and connections to community resources, the program provides support tailored to each household’s unique needs. Participants are matched to programs that best fit their situation, helping create a path toward safe and stable housing.

Eligibility and services follow HUD definitions of homelessness to ensure support is directed to those most in need. Funding guidelines define “homeless” as:

Category 1: Literally Homeless

An individual or family without a fixed, regular, and adequate place to sleep. This includes those staying in places not meant for habitation, living in shelters or temporary housing, or exiting an institution after a short stay (90 days or less) where they were previously homeless or in a shelter.

Category 2: Imminent Risk of Homeless-ness

An individual or family who will lose their housing within 14 days, has no other place to go, and lacks the resources or support to secure stable housing.

Category 3: Homeless Under Other Federal Statuses

Unaccompanied youth under 25 or families with youth who meet other federal definitions of homelessness, have not had stable housing in the past 60 days, have moved frequently, and are likely to continue experiencing instability due to ongoing barriers.

Category 4: Fleeing Domestic Violence

Individuals or families fleeing domestic violence who have no safe place to live and lack the resources or support to find permanent housing.

The Homeless Intervention Program uses the Coordinated Entry Pre-screen system to connect individuals and families to housing support. This system prioritizes assistance based on vulnerability and level of need, ensuring those who need help most receive assistance as quickly as possible.

Coordinated Entry follows a “no wrong door” approach. Rather than applying at multiple agencies, individuals complete one pre-screen to be considered for a range of housing programs across west central Wisconsin. If you are experiencing homelessness or may lose your housing soon, please call 715-598-4750.

Based on your situation and level of need, you may be placed on the West Central Wisconsin Prioritization List. When a housing opportunity becomes available, the individual or family with the highest level of need will be contacted by the appropriate program.

Crisis Note: If you are experiencing an immediate housing crisis, please know that the Homeless Intervention Program does not provide emergency shelter or motel vouchers. However, we can help connect you to local resources and supports that may be able to assist you as quickly as possible. if your need occurs outside of business hours, please visit the County Resources tab, select your county, and review Shelters and Housing options for immediate assistance.

Homeless Management Information System Consumer Notice

Housing Choice Vouchers/Section 8

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

The purpose of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is to provide housing assistance and resources to low-income residents of Dunn, Pierce, St. Croix and Polk counties. Participants in the rental assistance program pay 30 percent of their monthly adjusted income for housing (rent + utilities). The Section 8 Program subsidizes the balance.

For an application or to learn more about the program, visit the Housing Choice Voucher page on our website.

 

For Dunn County Housing Choice Voucher, go to the Dunn County Housing Authority website.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited resources available, waiting periods are common. Eligibility is based on total annual gross income and family size. Applicant family income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county in which the family chooses to live.