WisTAF makes final allocations for Wisconsin Help for Homeowners legal aid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 5, 2024

CONTACT: Benson Gardner, communications and development manager, 608-620-0711, bgardner@wistaf.org

The Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF) made final allocations for the civil legal services component of the state's Wisconsin Help for Homeowners (WHH) program. The grants help low-income Wisconsin homeowners facing foreclosure to explore and achieve fair legal solutions available under the law.

WHH is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The program aimed to preserve homeownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state Department of Administration (DOA) tapped the Wisconsin Community Action Programs (WISCAP) to administer the program; WISCAP in turn subcontracted with WisTAF to administer the civil legal services component. In spring of 2024, the state formally stopped taking new applications for assistance under the overarching program. As both WHH grant recipients, Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid, had committed to a number of ongoing and new cases for which previous WHH allocations were not sufficient, DOA provided $232,821 for services through September 30, 2024, to allow grantees to close out most of their new and open cases.

The table below shows details of this year's grants. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis.

Grant Recipient	Area Served	Grant Amount
Judicare Legal Aid provides civil legal assistance, information and education to low-income people, Native Americans, and others who might otherwise be denied access to justice.	33 counties in northern Wisconsin, and Native American clients statewide	$33,723
Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. serves low-income clients in the areas of family law and domestic violence, housing, public benefits, special education, and economic development.	39 counties in southern Wisconsin	$191,098