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Felons who live in Wisconsin have ways to get help paying the bills if they are experiencing financial difficulty. There are numerous grant programs that will give felons assistance paying the rent, food, healthcare, and pay the bills. The grant programs in Wisconsin are made available by the federal, state, and local governments. Felons can get benefits from these programs on a long and short term basis, if they meet the qualification requirements.
Grants never have to be paid back. They differ in that way from loans, which you do need to be paid back. The grant programs for felons in Wisconsin provide a good way to help meet basic needs while you are working at becoming self sufficient. There is no limit to the number of grant programs you can apply for or receive funds from at one time, so apply for all of them that you qualify for.
Grants for Felons in Wisconsin
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Felons who need help paying for their housing or to find affordable housing options may be able to get assistance from HUD. This federally funded program helps felons find affordable housing, pay rent, avoid foreclosure, and purchase a home. Felons can also receive weatherization services through HUD, which will help to reduce monthly utility bills by making the home more energy efficient. HUD also owns several housing complexes, called Section 8, where felons can live for a low monthly rent. To qualify for help through HUD, you have to have a low income and be a citizen or legal alien. To get more information about HUD in Wisconsin, click here.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – This program provides a monthly cash grant for felons who qualify. The grant can be used to pay for living expenses, such paying bills, clothing, food, transportation, and more. This program is run in conjunction with Wisconsin Works (W-2), which focuses on helping felons to become self sufficient. While working toward self sufficiency, felons may receive a cash grant each month to help with basic living needs. To be approved for a TANF cash grant, felons need to have at least one minor child they are caring for, have a low income, and be a citizen or legal alien. To apply, click here.
Emergency Assistance – Wisconsin offers an Emergency Assistance program, which will provide felons who qualify with immediate help. Felons who qualify will receive a one-time cash payment to help with such things as an energy crisis, homelessness, natural disaster, to stop an eviction, etc. To be approved, you have to have a low income. To get more information about Emergency Assistance in Wisconsin, click here.
FoodShare – This program is the same as the national one called Supplemental Nutrition for Assistance Program (SNAP). The program will provide a monthly grant to felons who need help obtaining food. Felons who are approved for FoodShare in Wisconsin will receive their monthly benefit on an electronic debit card, which can be used at the store or farmers market to pay for food. To qualify for FoodShare, you have to have a low income and be a citizen or legal alien. To apply for food assistance in Wisconsin, click here.
Medicaid – Felons who need help with paying for healthcare services may qualify for Medicaid. This federally funded program will pay for such services as dental work, doctor visits, emergency care, prescription drugs, substance abuse treatment, and more. To be approved for Medicaid in Wisconsin, you have to have a low income and be a legal citizen. To apply, click here.
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) – This program will help felons with paying their energy bills. Felons who qualify will receive a grant to pay for their heating or electric bill, with the funds being paid directly to the energy provider on your behalf. They also offer crisis assistance for felons who have received a shutoff notice. The amount of your grant is determined by the number of people in your household. To qualify, you have to have a low income and be the person responsible for paying the utility bill. To apply for an energy grant, click here.
Lifeline – Felons who need help paying for their phone bill may be able to get a free mobile phone through the Lifeline program. The free phone comes with data, voice, and texting capabilities. To qualify, you have to have a low income. Felons already receiving SNAP or FoodShare may automatically be approved for a free mobile phone through Lifeline. To apply, click here.
While exploring the above grants for felons in Wisconsin, it is also a good idea to check with local churches and non-profit organizations. They often have helpful programs for felons in their local communities. The programs will usually provide hot meals, boxes of food, and more. Plus, they do not usually have strict qualification requirements regarding who can receive the assistance.
