Wisconsin Reentry Financial Help
Wisconsin Financial Assistance, Food Support & Housing Stability Resources
This directory provides financial help resources across Wisconsin, including emergency rent assistance, utilities support, free food programs, crisis aid, and benefits programs commonly used by people on probation, parole, and reentry. Availability varies by county — always verify before applying.
Milwaukee Region
Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington
✅ Verified Emergency Financial & Basic Needs Assistance
Community Advocates — Basic Needs Program
Emergency rent help, utility assistance, housing stabilization.
Emergency rent help, utility assistance, housing stabilization.
Milwaukee
Hunger Task Force
Free food pantries, mobile markets, emergency food support.
Free food pantries, mobile markets, emergency food support.
Milwaukee
Salvation Army — Waukesha County
Emergency rent, utilities, food assistance; often same-week help.
Emergency rent, utilities, food assistance; often same-week help.
Waukesha
Family Sharing of Ozaukee County
Food pantry, clothing, limited financial assistance.
Food pantry, clothing, limited financial assistance.
Grafton
St. Vincent de Paul — Milwaukee
Rent assistance, furniture vouchers, emergency needs.
Rent assistance, furniture vouchers, emergency needs.
Milwaukee
🛠️ Eligible Programs That May Require Intake Review
Waukesha County — Health & Human Services
Short-term rent help, utilities, energy crisis support.
Short-term rent help, utilities, energy crisis support.
Waukesha
Milwaukee Interfaith Program
Emergency funds, senior support, utility assistance.
Emergency funds, senior support, utility assistance.
Milwaukee
Energy Assistance — Ozaukee County
Utility/heat crisis aid; approval varies by documentation.
Utility/heat crisis aid; approval varies by documentation.
Ozaukee County
Full Shelf Food Pantry
Groceries, emergency food boxes, limited financial help referrals.
Groceries, emergency food boxes, limited financial help referrals.
West Bend
Madison / Dane County
Dane County
✅ Verified Emergency Rent, Utilities & Food Support
The Road Home Dane County
Emergency rent assistance, family housing stabilization, case management.
Emergency rent assistance, family housing stabilization, case management.
Madison
Dane County Human Services — Emergency Assistance
Rent, utilities, eviction prevention, crisis stabilization.
Rent, utilities, eviction prevention, crisis stabilization.
Dane County
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Food distribution, pantry locator, emergency grocery support.
Food distribution, pantry locator, emergency grocery support.
Madison
Goodman Community Center
Free groceries, family support services, emergency referrals.
Free groceries, family support services, emergency referrals.
Madison
Porchlight Inc.
Rental assistance, overnight shelters, case management, meals.
Rental assistance, overnight shelters, case management, meals.
Madison
🛠️ Eligible Assistance That Varies by Documentation
The River Food Pantry
Free groceries, family meal programs, delivery options.
Free groceries, family meal programs, delivery options.
Madison
St. Vincent de Paul — Madison
Furniture vouchers, food pantry, emergency rent referral.
Furniture vouchers, food pantry, emergency rent referral.
Madison
Northeast Wisconsin
Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan
✅ Verified Major Regional Assistance Programs
New Community Shelter
Meals, emergency shelter, case management, referrals.
Meals, emergency shelter, case management, referrals.
Green Bay
St. Joseph Food Program
Food pantry, mobile food distribution, family groceries.
Food pantry, mobile food distribution, family groceries.
Appleton
Oshkosh Area Community Pantry
Food distribution, fresh food, emergency assistance.
Food distribution, fresh food, emergency assistance.
Oshkosh
Salvation Army — Sheboygan
Rent help, utilities, food pantry, emergency funds.
Rent help, utilities, food pantry, emergency funds.
Sheboygan
🛠️ Eligible Programs With Varying Intake Requirements
Brown County Human Services
Emergency assistance, utilities, housing referrals.
Emergency assistance, utilities, housing referrals.
Brown County
Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Fox Cities
Donation support, vouchers, limited emergency aid.
Donation support, vouchers, limited emergency aid.
Appleton
North Central Wisconsin
Marathon, Wood, Portage, Lincoln, Langlade, Shawano
✅ Verified Food, Financial & Emergency Aid
Salvation Army — Wausau
Rent, utilities, food boxes, seasonal emergency aid.
Rent, utilities, food boxes, seasonal emergency aid.
Wausau
Portage County Hunger & Poverty Prevention
Food distribution, emergency groceries.
Food distribution, emergency groceries.
Portage County
United Way — Marshfield Area
Financial assistance referrals, food, utilities help.
Financial assistance referrals, food, utilities help.
Marshfield
🛠️ Eligible Additional Crisis Supports
Northwest Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn, Douglas, Barron, St. Croix, Polk
✅ Verified Food, Utilities & Crisis Help
Feed My People Food Bank
Food distribution, emergency boxes, pantry network.
Food distribution, emergency boxes, pantry network.
Eau Claire
🛠️ Eligible Limited Assistance — Call First
Polk County Energy Assistance Program
Utility/heat assistance; approval varies by documentation.
Utility/heat assistance; approval varies by documentation.
Polk County
Statewide Programs
Available across Wisconsin
✅ Verified Statewide & Multi-Region Assistance
Feeding Wisconsin Network
Statewide hunger-relief network providing food, groceries & pantry referrals.
Statewide hunger-relief network providing food, groceries & pantry referrals.
Statewide
The Salvation Army — Wisconsin
Financial assistance (rent, utilities), shelters, food pantries, casework.
Financial assistance (rent, utilities), shelters, food pantries, casework.
Statewide
St. Vincent de Paul (Multiple Councils)
Emergency rent/utility help, furniture vouchers, food pantries.
Emergency rent/utility help, furniture vouchers, food pantries.
Statewide
United Way 211 Wisconsin
Statewide directory for financial help, housing, food, transportation.
Statewide directory for financial help, housing, food, transportation.
Statewide
🛠️ Eligible May Require Documentation or Intake Review
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)
Heating/electric bill assistance; eligibility based on income & household need.
Heating/electric bill assistance; eligibility based on income & household need.
Statewide
Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy
Subsidized childcare for working families; varies by income documentation.
Subsidized childcare for working families; varies by income documentation.
Statewide
FoodShare Wisconsin (SNAP)
Food benefits for low-income households; requires eligibility screening.
Food benefits for low-income households; requires eligibility screening.
Statewide
Wisconsin Community Action Agencies
Multi-county support: rent, utilities, transportation, employment help.
Multi-county support: rent, utilities, transportation, employment help.
Statewide
Important: Financial and basic-needs assistance is not guaranteed by OACRA. Always verify eligibility, documentation requirements, and availability directly with the provider.
OACRA is not affiliated with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, county agencies, or any government organization. OACRA does not provide financial assistance, legal advice, or case management.
