The Milwaukee Common Council unanimously sponsored the expenditure of the Emergency Rent Assistance Program Grant from the United States Treasury Department.
Introduced by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson, the grant will provide $17.64 million in funding to Milwaukee households that are unable to pay rent due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The rent assistance grant will operate through Dec. 31, 2021.
“There are many Milwaukeeans who have continued to go to work day in and day out during this pandemic, but through no fault of their own have been struggling for months to pay their rent and other related costs,” said President Johnson. “We must ensure that those who are most vulnerable have the resources to maintain a stable housing situation, particularly at a time when we continue to urge everyone to stay home when at all possible to remain healthy due to the pandemic. I thank my colleagues for their unanimous support of this item.”
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Grant not only provides help with rent but also utility and home energy costs.
The program will be administered in partnership with the Social Development Commission.
“As we move forward through this pandemic, I call upon the federal government to pass the proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package so everyday people can continue to get the support they need," said President Johnson.