On January 27, 2025, a Trump administration memo directed federal agencies to pause their disbursement of loans and grants by 5 p.m. EST on January 28, 2025. Several lawsuits were filed to challenge this order, resulting in a temporary restraining order through February 3, 2025.

The following day, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget released a memo rescinding that order, which had paralyzed many federal programs and caused a huge uproar across the country and on Capitol Hill. 

We are relieved that this week’s threat to essential federal funding is resolved. Additionally, we will continue to work with city, county, state, and federal partners to ensure that essential funding that has been authorized by Congress and signed into law by the President continues to support individuals and families in our community as well as communities in all 50 states and U.S. territories. 

Community Advocates is committed to our mission of providing individuals and families with advocacy and services that meet their basic needs so they may live in dignity. We are also committed to ensuring our programs and services are available to those we serve with no service disruption. A potential pause in federal funding is no different, Community Advocates is and will be available to serve our community. 

This threat to federal funding has been resolved but it also presents an opportunity for your voice to be heard. If you are interested in advocating for the continuation of federal funding to support essential programs and services in our community, please contact your elected officials and share your opinions. Your elected officials can be found at myvote.wi.gov.

We are so thankful for each and every donor who gave to our programs and services during our 2024 year-end campaign. Even during challenging times, our supporters step up and share so generously with the individuals and families we serve. Each gift helps us to improve the health and quality of life of folks who face tremendous burdens, such as homelessness and housing insecurity, domestic violence, and behavioral health issues. Quite simply, thank you.

A special thanks goes out to the audiences at the Milwaukee Rep’s A Christmas Carol in November and December 2024. As part of the Rep’s longstanding A Christmas Carol Families Program, audience members’ financial donations resulted in extra gifts for some families we serve, as well as program funding.

Stronger Families Milwaukee program staff wrote: "We are so grateful that we were selected to provide these presents to our families. These families are dealing with housing and mental health crises. They did not expect to be able to provide any presents to their children, so this was so important to them. It is also an opportunity for them to spend quality time together. We thank you for your generosity."

Another parent wrote: "I am writing this letter to say thank you so much for all of the Christmas gifts my family and I got. I am really grateful and my kids enjoy everything that was given to them. I really appreciate it so much. The happiness on my kids’ faces was priceless, you have no idea how much this meant to me. I wish I could thank you in person because you made my kids’ Christmas this year. May God continue to bless you. Once again, thank you so much." 

We're also grateful for the thoughtful in-kind and group-based giving donations made through the holidays, including:

• Association for Women Lawyers: 100+ gifts
• Dolled You Up: Homemade dolls
• Ehlers, Inc.: Toys and games
• The Giving Tree, Northwestern Mutual and WIPFLI: 50 gifts each
• Erin Herdeman: Volunteered, provided a meal, and gave gifts
• Homestead Chamber Ensemble: Concert at Autumn West Safe Haven
• Kids Impact Community: 150 gifts
• KMC Stampings: "Adopted" two families
• The Lowlands Group: Coat drive
• Molly Maid of East Metro Milwaukee: Financial donation
• Mount Mary Women’s Basketball Team: Provided a meal and gave toys and gifts
• PetSmart: Stuffed animals
• The Sharing Tree Committee/Northwest Catholic Parishes: 40 gifts
• St. Therese Parish: Financial donation
• Two Men and a Truck: Coat drive and winter gear
• The Turkey Club: Thanksgiving turkeys
• Paul and Cindy Westin: Provided Thanksgiving dinner

In December, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the state Department of Justice had negotiated an agreement with Milwaukee-based Joe Berrada and Berrada Properties Management over alleged violations of the law. Kaul made the announcement at Community Advocates, where COO Maudwella Kirkendoll and Strategic Partnerships Director Deb Heffner also spoke.

Community Advocates has been selected to administer the remediation programs in the agreement—income-based rent, eviction diversion, rent assistance, and move-out assistance—for the impacted tenants. We’re looking forward to being part of this solution and establishing best practices for providing these tenant assistance programs.

The agreement was approved by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee on January 22. Once it is signed by the Court and we get the go-ahead from the state, we will be able to begin working with Berrada tenants. Community Advocates will provide additional details on eligibility criteria and the application process in the coming weeks.

We’re thrilled to announce that the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment has awarded Community Advocates a one-year seed grant to explore aging adults’ experiences with housing instability and homelessness in Milwaukee County. David Nelson, Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will be our project’s faculty mentor. We aim to learn more about these elders’ housing and health challenges and successes; community stakeholders’ views on serving these elders; and the policies and practices that impact these experiences. 

Community Advocates provides a range of programs and services for tenants and landlords in Milwaukee County.

Our programs include:

• City of Milwaukee Rental Assistance: Housing Stability Program (HSP): The HSP is a resource for eligible Milwaukee residents at risk of housing instability due to a temporary financial hardship. HSP offers up to 3 months of back rent (arrears); up to 1 month of future rent; and relocation funds (if applicable).

• Landlord/Tenant Programs: For tenants and landlords dealing with housing instability or lack of resources that could lead to eviction.

• Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center: The RHRC walk-in clinic, located in the Community Advocates building at 728 N. James Lovell Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233, operates Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. During these hours, tenants and landlords can consult with an intake specialist on a first-come, first-served basis. The intake team will assess needs and offer resources or referrals for rent and utilities assistance, landlord/tenant dispute resolution through neutral mediation, and relocation services. Visit the RHRC in person, go to RentHelpMKE.org, or call 414-895-RENT (7368) for more information.

Signing up for the Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program is easy! Eligible Milwaukee County residents can schedule a phone appointment or apply online at keepwarmmke.org or you can call 414-270-4653. Community Advocates has limited availability for walk-in clients at our downtown offices at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee. We’re here to help you! The Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program is a State of Wisconsin Home Energy Plus Program. 

The Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee (ECOM) is a monthly gathering of social services professionals, advocates, and consumers organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute. ECOM explores topics that are vital to Milwaukee’s human services professionals. Each session features multiple presentations from experts and opportunities to share resources.

The next session will explore child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, and Medicaid. It’ll be held on Wednesday, February 19, at Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Ave., Milwaukee.



Other 2025 ECOM sessions will cover legal services, food assistance, mental health, services for LGBTQ+ individuals, domestic violence, and more.

Sessions are held in person from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Fee is $5 per person, but free for PPI members. Registrations are non-refundable and must be submitted the Friday before each workshop.

Community Advocates is a proud co-sponsor of the Milwaukee launch event for Professor Bernadette Atuahene's new book, Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Ownership In America, at Boswell Book Co. on February 20.

Atuahene, a property law scholar, is a leader in the Milwaukee Property Tax Appeals Project, which partners with Community Advocates to address local property tax assessment issues that disproportionately affect Black residents, as well as effective tax foreclosure intervention.

Professor Atuahene will be in conversation with Reggie Jackson, and Community Advocates COO Maudwella Kirkendoll will offer a few words of introduction.



Atuahene’s Milwaukee book launch will be held at Boswell Book Co., 2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 20. Learn more and RSVP for this no-cost event below.

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee has partnered with the Rental Housing Resource Center (located inside of the Community Advocates building, 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee) to help individuals currently looking to remove past evictions from their CCAP Search. This free clinic will be held on the second Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is currently open to individuals with dismissed evictions and completed payment plans only. Only open to Milwaukee County. Walk-ins welcome. Appointments preferred. The next clinic will be held on Wednesday, February 12.

Looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? We invite you to prepare and serve a meal to the 75 guests staying at the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s Emergency Shelter on the Near South Side of Milwaukee.

Details:

• Meals should be prepared, purchased, and served by volunteers at 6 p.m. daily.
• We provide a fully equipped commercial kitchen with all the utensils, pots, pans, and dishes, along with a commercial stove/oven. If you prefer, you can bring in fully cooked meals that are ready to serve.
• Volunteers will be required to wear hair nets, gloves, and masks when necessary to ensure the safety of all guests.
• Volunteers must complete an application and pass a background check.

This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, or groups to make a tangible difference in the lives of adults and kids who have survived domestic violence or homelessness.

Interested? Contact Jeri Kavanaugh at jkavanaugh@communityadvocates.net to discuss the details and schedule your date to serve.

Together, we can provide comfort, nourishment, and hope to those who need it most. Thank you for your support!

Please give the gift of hope this winter by purchasing an item for one of the many families in need in our community. From winter coats for clients of Homeless Outreach, to personal hygiene items for shelter residents, your generosity is uplifting a life.

Community Advocates recognizes that people who live with Opioid Use Disorder and are in recovery need to live in a safe and stable home. To make that happen, we are providing Recovery Vouchers for up to six months of supportive housing for individuals and their families. To be eligible, the individual must be age 18 or older and have documentation of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or receiving treatment to address OUD within the previous 12 months. In addition, the individual must have documentation of homelessness (Category 1, 2, 3, or 4).

To obtain a referral form, email Maudwella Kirkendoll.

The program is funded by the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy (DEHCR), Housing and Community Resources.

Milwaukee tenants and landlords can get help in person without an appointment.

Walk-ins are welcome at the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center, located in Community Advocates' downtown offices at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee. The Triage Team will assess your situation and make referrals so you can get the help you need.

The RHRC is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You can also find available rentals in Milwaukee and surrounding areas on our website. We update the listings every week on our website and Facebook page.

You can get in touch with us in the following ways:

• Call: 414-270-2992
• Email: Contact Us
• Facebook: facebook.com/CommunityAdvocatesMilwaukee
• Milwaukee Women’s Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line: 414-671-6140
• Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program: 414-270-4653 or KeepWarmMKE.org
• FSET at Community Advocates: 414-290-7700
• Rent HelpLine: renthelp@communityadvocates.net
• Bottomless Closet: 414-270-2984
• Emergency services after hours or on weekends: 2-1-1