How We work together

Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center (MKE RHRC) is a collaborative network of local housing and related assistance programs. Our vision is to bring together the resources and organizations that successfully guide residents through a variety of rental housing related issues. From understanding your rental housing rights, to finding legal and mediation services, better understanding how to access rental assistance, and accessing training and education, MKE RHRC brings the expertise of several area housing experts under one roof.

Community Advocates

Community Advocates

Community Advocates provides individuals and families with advocacy and services to meet their basic needs so they may live in dignity. Their work is grounded in ensuring individuals and families have safe and stable housing. They provide assistance and advocacy for people experiencing challenges with energy bills, rental housing, homelessness, domestic violence, substance use disorders, and mental health issues.

IMPACT

IMPACT

IMPACT assesses and guides those experiencing personal crisis toward resources to achieve stability and collaborate with community partners to foster system improvement. Starting with a comprehensive assessment of complex problems, they expertly navigate and connect to appropriate resources, collect, analyze and interpret data and then create and implement a research-based plan. They refer people to the MKE RHRC from the 2-1-1 resource helpline, and run the Coordinated Entry program by which people get into and through the homeless service delivery system. If needed, IMPACT can seamlessly support a person through prevention, emergency shelter, and rehousing services. IMPACT has served Southeastern Wisconsin for 60 years.

Hope House

Hope House

Hope House is a non-profit emergency homeless shelter and rapid rehousing facility, providing services that aim to end homelessness and create healthy communities. Opened in 1987, Hope House was created to provide a safe, temporary refuge for people needing a place to sleep. Over the years, Hope House has evolved into a complete provider of services for homeless and low income individuals. In addition to residential services, Hope House provides community outreach to individuals needing health care, food distribution, financial assistance, and educational opportunities for adults and children. Most recently, Hope House has made a commitment to Homeless Prevention and Diversion Services that work to keep people safe in their homes. About Hope House

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee

Legal Aid helps Milwaukee County tenants in disputes with former or current landlords, including cases regarding eviction defense, security deposits, failure to make repairs, lock outs, and other landlord and tenant issues on a case by case basis. The Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee was founded in 1916 “to do all things necessary for the prevention of injustice.” We are one of the nation’s oldest, continuously operating, public interest law firms and we are here to provide free legal assistance to low income Milwaukee County residents with civil legal problems.

Logo of Legal Action of Wisconsin

Legal Action Wisconsin

Legal Action of Wisconsin provides free civil legal services to Wisconsin clients at the most vulnerable times in their lives. We believe that equal justice should have no price tag for low-income people. As the state’s largest nonprofit law firm, Legal Action’s services are provided free of charge to eligible clients. Common cases include housing, public benefits, family law, barriers to employment, consumer issues and more.

Mediate Wisconsin

Mediate Wisconsin

Mediate Wisconsin, known locally as Mediate Milwaukee, provides free mediation services to landlords and tenants with a mission of promoting sustainable housing through minimizing preventable evictions. Trained, professional mediators help tenants and landlords work through disagreements to find effective solutions for all parties involved. The Mediate Wisconsin team understands tenant-landlord conflict, our mediators are neutral and don’t judge the parties or the situation and focus on empowering parties to work together and find solutions that make sense to them and their unique circumstances.

Rental Property Association of Wisconsin (formerly AASEW)

The Rental Property Association of Wisconsin (formerly the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin or AASEW) provides education, legislative support, and networking opportunities for landlords in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. Founded in 1974, it is the oldest and largest apartment owner trade association in Southeastern Wisconsin.

City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services

City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services

The City of Milwaukee’s Department of Neighborhood Services protects the value of investments in neighborhoods and commercial properties and supports community goals of building safe and healthy neighborhoods and increasing investment and economic vitality throughout Milwaukee. We provide comprehensive training and information for tenants and property owners. We share factual information about rights and responsibilities on an immediate basis, and help problem-solve for our community members. About City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services

Milwaukee County Housing Division

Milwaukee County Housing Division

Milwaukee County Housing Division helps to support Milwaukee County residents experiencing homelessness and housing instability. MCHD operates a variety of different programs aimed at alleviating housing insecurity and helping individuals and families access safe and affordable housing. MCHD provides housing intervention, eviction prevention, housing navigation, and homeless outreach services. MCHD has played a lead role in advocating for local policy changes to increase the use of Housing First principles in relation to homelessness throughout Milwaukee County. MCHD staff lead the Milwaukee County Outreach Collaborative, which focuses on decriminalizing homelessness, street outreach coordination, and housing justice. MCHD also includes CDBG/HOME, Section 8, My Home, and the newly created Real Estate Department, focused on property acquisitions.

UEDA - Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin

Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin

UEDA is dedicated to facilitating effective, cross-sector collaboration, meaningful connections, and strengthening individual and organizational capacity in Wisconsin’s community and economic development sector. We focus on and advocate for community investment, sustainable homeownership and housing, regional transportation, small business growth, financial empowerment and the local food economy. Since 2019 UEDA has served as the facilitator for MKE RHRC, convening stakeholders to design and launch the program as a response to the impact of evictions and increasing housing instability in Milwaukee. UEDA provides project support to the MKE RHRC and the MKE RHRC Advisory Network.