Critical Assistance Program (CA)

​​​​​Overview

The Critical Assistance (CA) program provides homeless prevention assistance to low-to-moderate income households in areas of the state that are not served by: 

  • Emergency Solutions Grant (federally-funded), 
  • Homeless Prevention Program (state-funded), or 
  • Other housing prevention programs. ​

The CA program serves households that are at or below 80 percent of the county median income (CMI), with the majority of households served being at or below 30 percent of the CMI. 

The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources awards CA funds to one applicant agency who has the capacity to assist all persons throughout the state of Wisconsin, outside of Dane, Milwaukee, and Racine counties. The collaboration of CA prevention activities with other local agencies is expected.  ​​

​Eligible Activities

Mortgage ​Assistance ​​​

  • ​The grantee may assist homeowners with a one-time payment towards the principal and interest on a mortgage loan that is past due. The homeowner must show the ability to ​make future payments. ​

Property Tax Assistance 

  • The grantee may assist ​homeowners with a one-time payment towards property taxes that are past due. The homeowner must show the ability ​to make future payments. 

Rent Assistance 

  • The grantee may provide a one-time payment towards rent. The tenant must show the ability to make future rent payments. 

Security Deposit Assistance 

  • Th​​e grantee may provide a one-time payment towards a security deposit, after other homeless prevention assistance resources have been considered. 

Utility Assistance

  • ​The grantee may provide a one-time payment towards utilities in instances where non-payment will lead to eviction and homelessness. Other forms of utility assistance must be considered first before CA funds are used. Eligible utilities include: 
    • Heat
    • Electricity 
    • Water 

​Administration 

  • The grantee may use up to 15 percent of their total award for operation costs to support housing assistance activities, including staff salaries and administrative expenses. 

Current Grantee

Persons in need of homeless prevention assistance should contact their local agencies first for assistance. Eligibility to receive CA funds may be considered after all local resources have been exhausted. ​

To apply for the CA program, please reach out to the Foundation for Rural Housing:​

​Application​

The CA application for agencies will be available in spring 2027. ​

Program Forms

​Monitoring 

​Client Files 

Reference Materials

​​​​Websites  

Contact Information​

If an individual and/or household is in need of housing assistance, please go to DEHCR's main webpage​​ for a list of resources located by county.

CA Program Manager - Dana Wallace 

Telephone: (608) 261-7013
Mailing Address: Department of Administration
                            Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources
                            P.O. Box 7970
                          ​  ​Madison, WI 53707-7970​