Pam Groce, the Rental Housing Resource Center’s intake specialist and landlord liaison, and Ericka Crowley, its director, are a part of the center’s small team. (Photo by PrincessSafiya Byers) 

Milwaukee’s Rental Housing Resource Center, also known as the RHRC, is working to be a one-stop shop for rental housing issues.

The center opened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has since expanded to have walk-in and triage capacity.

Advertisement

“The goal of the RHRC is eviction diversion, which usually means to keep our clients out of eviction court,” said Ericka Crowley, the center’s director.

What’s new

In its short existence, the RHRC has served Milwaukeeans in many capacities.

Now, RHRC staff are doing their best to make sure they can help everyone who walks through the door.

The center partners with Legal Aid Society, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Mediate Wisconsin, the Urban Economic Development Association, Renters Property Association, the City of Milwaukee, the Department of Neighborhood Services and the Milwaukee County Housing Division.

The center now has the ability to provide financial assistance to some who may be in need through its Housing Stability Program.

To be eligible for the Housing Stability Program, you have to have a loss of income in the last 30 to 90 days,  have  income making enough to sustain housing and you have to be within income guidelines.

“We really do our best not to tell anybody ‘no,’ ” Crowley said. “Even if we don’t have exactly what you may need, we’ll do our best to help in some way.”

For more information

The Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center is located at Community Advocates’ downtown location at 728 N. James Lovell St. Crowley said walk-ins are welcome from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The center can be contacted at info@renthelpmke.org or 414-895-RENT.

Crowley said the center is understaffed at the moment, so if you call, your wait could be up to seven or eight days to get a call returned. The best way to get help is to walk into the center.

If you just want to keep up with the RHRC you can follow its Facebook page or Instagram.

Other resources to consult 

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee: 414-727-5300

Mediate Milwaukee: 414-939-8800

Legal Action of Wisconsin: 414-278-7722

Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union: 414-410-9714 

IMPACT 2-1-1: 211

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

PrincessSafiya Byers was born and raised in Milwaukee, and is a 2020 graduate of Marquette University, majoring in Journalism and Africana Studies. Her commitment to her community has led her to nonprofit work with local youth and families. She’s also interned with the Milwaukee Community Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and joins Milwaukee NNS as a Report for America Staff Reporter looking to serve democracy by covering issues important to the community.