Wisconsin financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Wisconsin
Wisconsin households may be able to get help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, employment, and other basic needs. Many programs use ACCESS for applications, while housing, energy, aging, legal, and emergency services are often routed through county, Tribal, regional, or local agencies.
Money Fit serves Wisconsin residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
ACCESS is Wisconsin's main online route for FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid, Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy, and other public benefits. Housing and energy assistance use separate state and local provider networks, while 211 Wisconsin can help locate nearby services.
Apply for food, health, child care, or other benefits
ACCESS lets Wisconsin residents apply for and manage several benefit programs online, including FoodShare, health coverage, and Wisconsin Shares.
Find nearby help statewide
211 Wisconsin provides statewide community-resource navigation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, safety, and other needs.
Housing or energy assistance
Wisconsin's Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources routes rent, shelter, homelessness, energy, weatherization, and related help through county, Tribal, and local partner agencies.
Local routing matters in Wisconsin. Counties, Tribal agencies, income-maintenance consortia, housing authorities, Wisconsin Shares agencies, WHEAP agencies, ADRCs, and legal-aid providers may serve different geographic areas. Use the statewide portals to find the office or provider responsible for your location.
Food assistance
FoodShare is Wisconsin's SNAP program. WIC supports eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. For food needed sooner, 211 Wisconsin and the state's food-bank network can help locate pantries and meal programs.
FoodShare Wisconsin
FoodShare provides grocery benefits to eligible households. Residents can apply through ACCESS or contact the income-maintenance agency serving their county or Tribe.
Wisconsin WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible Wisconsin families with pregnant or postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC agencies handle enrollment.
Well Badger Resource Center: 800-642-7837, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Food banks, pantries, and meal programs
211 Wisconsin can locate food pantries, meal programs, and emergency food resources by area. Feeding Wisconsin also connects residents with member food banks and hunger-relief organizations across the state.
FoodShare work requirements expanded in 2026. Wisconsin DHS says some FoodShare members ages 18 through 64 who do not have a child age 13 or younger living in the home must meet an 80-hour monthly work requirement unless exempt or excused for good cause. Separate basic work rules generally apply to FoodShare applicants and members ages 16 through 59.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Wisconsin housing and energy programs are delivered through state agencies, local housing authorities, counties, Tribal governments, and community organizations. Funding and waiting-list status can differ by location.
Wisconsin DEHCR local assistance
The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources provides a county and Tribal resource finder for rental assistance, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, homeowner assistance, housing repair, and other programs administered by local providers.
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program
WHEAP helps eligible households with heating and electric costs and may provide crisis services. The 2025-26 program year runs through September 30, 2026. The next program year begins October 1, with updated 2026-27 income guidelines already published.
Energy Help Line: 866-HEATWIS (866-432-8947)
Weatherization Assistance Program
Wisconsin weatherization services help eligible households improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. Local weatherization agencies deliver services using state and federal funding.
Home Energy Plus HVAC services
HE+ HVAC services can help eligible households when a primary heating system no longer provides heat, is inoperable, or becomes unsafe. The program is available year-round and is coordinated through local WHEAP and weatherization agencies.
WHEDA Housing Choice Voucher Program
WHEDA administers Housing Choice Vouchers in portions of Wisconsin through local program agents. WHEDA's tenant-based voucher waiting lists remain closed to new general applications, with limited exceptions for certain VASH referrals and listed project-based voucher properties.
Wisconsin Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance can provide cash assistance and resource connections for qualifying families with children facing homelessness, domestic violence, a natural disaster, fire, or an energy crisis. Payments may help with costs such as rent, a security deposit, essential utilities, home repairs, or necessary household items.
Wisconsin civil legal aid
Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare provide civil legal aid in different parts of the state. Services can include housing, public benefits, consumer matters, family safety, and other civil legal issues. Eligibility and county coverage vary.
Energy assistance does not guarantee a benefit. Wisconsin states that WHEAP benefits depend on available funding, and no benefit is issued after program-year funds are exhausted. Housing voucher and rental-assistance availability can also change by agency and location.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus use ACCESS and local income-maintenance agencies. People who do not qualify for public coverage may be able to use the federal Marketplace, while community health centers provide care regardless of insurance status.
BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Medicaid
BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid provide health coverage for eligible Wisconsin residents based on age, income, disability, pregnancy, household circumstances, and other program rules. Applications can be submitted through ACCESS.
Member services and application help: 800-362-3002
HealthCare.gov
Wisconsin uses the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Households that do not qualify for Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus may be able to compare private plans and receive financial help depending on income and federal rules.
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
ForwardHealth local agencies
Income-maintenance agencies and Tribal agencies help residents apply for and manage FoodShare, Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, and related benefits. Wisconsin provides an online locator by county and Tribe.
Federal Medicaid work requirements begin in 2027. Wisconsin DHS says new applicants who are subject to the requirement must meet it beginning January 1, 2027. Most current affected BadgerCare Plus members will first face the requirement at renewals beginning in March 2027. DHS is sending advance notices to people who may be affected.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Wisconsin Shares helps eligible families pay for child care, while Wisconsin Works and Emergency Assistance provide employment-related and emergency support for qualifying families.
Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy
Wisconsin Shares helps eligible working and participating families pay a portion of child care costs. New applicants generally must meet the 200% federal poverty level entry limit and have an approved activity such as work, education, apprenticeship, or certain employment and training programs.
Wisconsin Works
Wisconsin Works, or W-2, is a work-based program for eligible low-income parents and pregnant people. Services can include employment planning, training, supportive services, and cash payments tied to qualifying placements.
Emergency Assistance
Eligible families facing homelessness, domestic violence, fire, natural disaster, or an energy crisis may qualify for emergency cash help and resource connections through Wisconsin's Emergency Assistance program.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs determine eligibility, openings, and waiting-list status.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Wisconsin Shares income limits changed in 2026. Current program materials use 200% of the federal poverty level for new applicants and 85% of state median income as the ongoing loss-of-eligibility limit. Household size, approved activity, provider participation, authorization, and other rules still apply.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
Wisconsin unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development provides online claim filing, claimant information, and benefit support.
Job Center of Wisconsin
Job Center of Wisconsin provides job-search tools, employment resources, resume support, training information, and connections to local workforce services.
Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare
These nonprofit legal-aid organizations serve different Wisconsin counties and populations. Help may cover housing, public benefits, family safety, consumer debt, employment, and other civil legal matters, subject to eligibility and service-area rules.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Wisconsin's Aging and Disability Resource Centers serve all 72 counties, and most Tribal nations also have dedicated aging and disability resource specialists. Services are available regardless of income for people who need information and navigation.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
ADRCs connect older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and families with long-term care options, benefits, transportation, nutrition, in-home support, housing, legal and advocacy resources, and other local services.
Find your ADRC: 844-WIS-ADRC (844-947-2372)
Elder and disability benefit specialists
ADRCs provide access to benefit specialists who can help eligible residents understand programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, FoodShare, Social Security, private health insurance, and related benefits.
Adult Protective Services
Wisconsin Adult Protective Services responds to suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation involving adults at risk and older adults. Reports are generally made to the county agency or local law enforcement serving the person's location.
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential crisis support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance use. Wisconsin residents are connected to trained crisis counselors and may be referred to local services when appropriate.
Call or text: 988
Domestic violence support
Local Wisconsin programs can provide safety planning, emergency shelter, advocacy, legal-system support, and other services for people experiencing domestic abuse. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin maintains a statewide directory of member programs.
211 Wisconsin
211 Wisconsin provides statewide coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can connect residents with food, housing, utilities, transportation, health, safety, disaster, and other community resources.
Call: 211
ReadyWisconsin and FEMA
ReadyWisconsin provides current state disaster information and recovery guidance. FEMA Individual Assistance is only available after a qualifying federal declaration and only for designated areas and application periods. The application deadline for Wisconsin's April 2026 storms and flooding was August 31, 2026, so new applications for that declaration are closed unless FEMA announces another route or extension.
Report damage to local officials
Wisconsin does not maintain a standing state program that automatically pays private property owners for storm or flood repairs. Residents should report disaster damage to local officials, document losses, contact insurers when applicable, and follow ReadyWisconsin for any state or federal assistance that becomes available.
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance can help with basic expenses while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Wisconsin residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible options.
A debt management plan may organize eligible unsecured debt into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. A DMP is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
