Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) Program 

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The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) program offers eligible households assistance with current or late rent, energy or utility bills, and other housing costs dating back to the start of the pandemic. Applicants must be a Wisconsin resident who has experienced a significant income loss or costs due directly or indirectly to COVID-19, is at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and has a household income at or below 80% of the county median income.  To learn more about the program and apply, click the boxes below. 

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​What Do I Need To Apply

The first step is to complete the pre-screen below to see if you qualify. If you qualify and have not applied for Energy Assistance you will be asked to complete the Energy Assistance application. 

Income Guidelines

Income guidelines vary by county. Please click on your county to see if you qualify.

Crawford & Vernon Counties - 80 Percent County Median Income

La Crosse County - 80 Percent County Median Income

Monroe County - 80 Percent County Median Income

Service Area

Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) Program is a statewide program. However, Couleecap's service area is Crawford, ​La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon counties. To start the application process for a provider in another county, call 1-833-900-WERA (9372).

Available assistance and Eligibility

Types of Assistance

• Up to 12 months of late rent payments or rental assistance including utilities covered by landlord within the rent. Lot rent for manufactured homes are allowable rental expenses.
• Utility and housing, energy payment and arrearages, including electricity and gas.
• Housing stability services and payments; security deposits.
• Assistance may be provided for arrears that have accrued from March 13, 2020 to date.
• Funding will be provided to customers on a first-come, first served basis.

Eligibility
Eligible households for assistance include the following:

• Must be 18 years of age, a WI resident, and listed on a current lease for housing in the state.
• At least one person in the household must:
  • Qualify for unemployment or has experience a significant reduction of income, incurred significant cost, or experienced financial hardship during the period of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  • Is at risk of homelessness or housing instability (i.e. late on rent payments or unable to pay rent/utilities); and,
  • Has a household income at or below 80% of the county median income. Please review the chart for income guidelines for your county.
• An eligible household in federally subsidized housing or mixed-use property may receive WERA assistance, provided that WERA funds are not applied to costs that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal assistance.

Expenses that are not eligible within this program:

• Telecommunication services (telephone, cable, Internet), water, sewer, and trash.
• Homeowners mortgage payments, utilities, or energy costs.

FAQ

1. ​Who should I contact to apply for the WERA?
   You will apply through your local community action agency. You can find them by visiting: www.wiscap.org/wera. Be sure to contact the agency that serves your county. Applications can also be submitted online (https://energybenefit.wi.gov/) or taken at a statewide rental assistance hotline by calling 833-900-9372 (WERA)
   
   
2. What if I have received rental assistance elsewhere?

• ​If a household receives rental assistance other than WERA, then WERA may only be used for tenant’s portions of costs (rent, utilities) that were not already covered by the other assistance.
• An eligible household that occupies a federally subsidized residential or mixed-use property may receive WERA assistance, provided that WERA funds are only applied to costs that have not been reimbursed under any other federal assistance.
• If a household receives a monthly federal subsidy (e.g., a Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, Project-Based Rental Assistance, or Tenant-Based Rental Assistance) and the tenant’s rent is adjusted according to changes in household income, the household may receive WERA assistance.

   3.  What assistance can WERA provide?
        Eligible forms of assistance include the following:

• Up to 12 months of rental arrearages and/or rental assistance, plus an additional 3 months if the extra months are determined to be needed to ensure housing stability and funds are available.
  • Once a household’s rental arrears are reduced, assistance is only provided for up to three months at a time.
  • Recertification of household’s income eligibility is necessary after three months.
  • Only arrears starting March 13, 2020 are eligible.
• Utility and housing energy payments and arrearages including electricity and gas.
  • Telecommunication services (telephone, cable, Internet) are not considered to be utilities.
  • Utilities covered by the landlord within rent will be treated as rent.
• Provision of or referral for housing stability services.
  
  

  4.  Are mortgage payments eligible?
       No mortgage payments are not an eligible expense. We urge all landlords to work directly with their tenants.

  5.  Who qualifies for the WERA program?
       At least one or more individuals in the household meets the following criteria:

• Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a significant reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship during the period of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
• Has a household income at or below 80 percent of their county’s median income.

  6.  What documentation from the landlord will I need?
       The landlord must sign (along with renter) the Renter Verification form.  This document provides a way for the landlord/rental     
       agent to verify the terms of tenancy of the applicant. This document can be used in the place of a written lease if completed and
       signed by the landlord/rental agent.  In addition, the Landlord must register themselves as a vendor in the HE+ system to receive
       payment. Check with your local agency to see if the Landlord is already a registered vendor.

  7.  Does my unemployment count as income?
       Yes.

  8.  If someone applies for rental assistance through a Community Action Agency, while the application is being processed     
       are landlords able to take eviction action?
       If the landlord intends to evict, no legal basis exists under the application process to stay an eviction order. On a condition
       of receiving WERA payments, Landlords would agree not to initiate eviction orders during the duration of the CDC
       eviction moratorium.      

  9.  What is the turnaround time for program approval and disbursement of checks?
       From the time an application is completed payment will be generated within 10 days or less.

  10. What documents are needed when applying for WERA (for both tenant and landlord)?
        a. The household must provide documentation showing their income was impacted by COVID-19
        b. Documentation that income for the 1-month period from application date does not exceed 80% of the County Median Income
            (CMI) OR 2020 IRS Tax Documentation.
        c. A current lease or agreement listing the applicant resides in Wisconsin.

  11. Will any services be offered to displaced families that may require additional cost?
        Wrap-around services including financial counseling, budgeting assistance, tenant rights counselling and additional referrals may
         be provided by Community Action Agencies. 

  12. Are in-person meetings required? Are virtual meetings allowed?
        Applications may be taken by phone and virtual meetings are allowed. 

Pre-Screen

Contact

Please complete the application. If you have any additional questions or need help completing this application, please contact Couleecap at 1.844.267.0033.

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Program Funder and Partners

State of Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources