Milwaukee Neighborhood Resources

IMPACT 211 – Directory and referral system for social services. Call 211 for:

• Basic Needs: Food, clothing, income support assistance and government programs
• Housing: Emergency shelter, warming centers, housing navigation
  • Winter Warming Locations (through 3/30/26)
• Wellness: Health care, mental health resources, substance use disorder assistance
• Children & Families: Support programs, job skill training, legal assistance, consumer protection

City of Milwaukee 

1. Click 4 Action
   Enter requests for city services or information. Requests are logged and routed to the City divisions which will provide the requested services or information. Also available as a smart phone app.
2. Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS)
   Permits, inspections, compliance loans, vacant building registration, code enforcement, landlord/tenant programs, Rent-for-Success
   DNS Quick Assistance Brochure (English) and (Spanish) – helpful for landlords and owners of commercial properties
3. Licenses and Permits
   Animals, Beverages, Building/Construction, Business, Food, Personal, Special Event, Vehicle
4. Parking
   Permits, citations, regulations, tow lot, etc.
5. Sanitation
   Trash, recycling, bulky item pickup, hazardous waste, drop off centers
6. CIP Grants – NIDC (Community Improvement Project)
   Resident-led neighborhood improvements or small home repair grants: up to $4,000 ($1,000 match-free) for projects; up to $1,500 repair match for homeowners
   1. Safe and Sound Good Neighbor Grant Fund (can be a match source for CIP)
7. Department of Environmental Collaboration (ECO)
   Information on range of programs that support residents, neighborhoods and businesses.
8. Election Commission
   Register to vote, see election results, view aldermanic districts, see upcoming elections, etc.

City of Milwaukee Electeds

Mayor | Cavalier Johnson | mayor@milwaukee.gov

District 1 | Andrea M. Pratt | aide1@milwaukee.gov

District 2 | Mark Chambers, Jr. | aide2@milwaukee.gov

District 3 | Alex Brower | alex.brower@milwaukee.gov

District 4 | Robert Bauman | rjbauma@milwaukee.gov

District 5 | Lamont Westmoreland | lamont.westmoreland@milwaukee.gov

District 6 | Milele A. Coggs | mcoggs@milwaukee.gov

District 7 | DiAndre Jackson | diandre.jackson@milwaukee.gov

District 8 | JoCasta Zamarripa | jocasta.zamarripa@milwaukee.gov

District 9 | Laressa Taylor | laressa.taylor@milwaukee.gov

District 10 | Sharlen P. Moore | sharlen.moore@milwaukee.gov

District 11 | Peter Burgelis | peter.burgelis@milwaukee.gov

District 12 | José G. Pérez | jperez@milwaukee.gov

District 13 | Scott Spiker | scott.spiker@milwaukee.gov

District 14 | Marina Dimitrijevic | marina@milwaukee.gov

District 15 | Russell W. Stamper, II | russell.stamper@milwaukee.gov

Civil Legal Services

1. Milwaukee Justice Center – Eviction Diversion & Mediation Services
   Access landlord-tenant mediation via coordinated court diversion line and resource referrals. Avoid eviction court when possible
   Eviction Prevention Eviction Diversion Line: 414-305-0557
2. Family Court Mediation Services
   Low-cost (typically $100 per person) mediation through Milwaukee County Family Court for custody or placement disputes in family law cases
   901 N. 9th St., Room 707, Milwaukee 53233
3. Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
   Free legal services in civil matters involving housing security, guardianship, consumer protection, financial health, civil rights, and immigration
4. Legal Action of Wisconsin
   Free legal services in housing, employment, debt & taxes, specific populations (farmworkers, seniors & older adults, veterans, harm reduction (substance use), reentry), public benefits, family law, and victim support. Apply at 855-947-2529 or online
5. Voces de la Frontera Legal Clinics
   Specialization in immigration and workers rights law. Call 414-643-1620 with basic questions or to set up an appointment.

Community Safety & Crime

1. Police Districts
   Interactive map of City of Milwaukee police districts, with address and phone number listings for district offices.
2. City of Milwaukee Alert Neighbor Program
   Emphasizes community involvement in addressing crime & safety concerns in Milwaukee neighborhoods.
3. Office of Community Wellness and Safety
   Multidisciplinary efforts that reduce: Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Human Trafficking, Children Witness to Violence, Community Violence, Gun Violence, Interpersonal Violence, Intentional injury, and Homicide
4. Milwaukee Fire Department Safety & Prevention
   Tips on summer safety, fire escape planning, youth education, space heaters, wood stoves, frozen pipes, etc.
5. Milwaukee Fire Department Community & Kids
   List of programs offered for community outreach (CPR training, Elder Safe, EMS, fire extinguisher safety, child safety seat installation, smoke alarm, etc.)
6. Smoke Alarm Hotline: (414) 286-8980 – for single- or two-family homes that do not have a smoke alarm (MFD will come out and install one)

Financial Stability & Employment

1. Bank On Greater Milwaukee
   Resources focused on financial empowerment and building healthy relationships between families and financial institutions.
2. RiverWorks Financial Clinic
   Free financial coaching helping families overcome financial crisis and build smart money habits. Specialized in helping individuals: increase credit scores, reduce debt, purchase homes, saving, etc.
3. Community Insurance Information Center
   Consumer education and outreach program striving to explain property and casualty insurance to the public to promote a better understanding of insurance products.
4. JobsWork MKE
   Serves harder-to-employ individuals from diverse backgrounds who often face significant barriers to employment success, including, unsuccessful work histories, addictions, criminal records, limited education, lack of transportation, housing instability and trauma.
5. Employ Milwaukee
   Workforce development programs for adults, youth, and businesses including reentry, Earn & Learn, and more.

Housing Resources

1. Milwaukee Housing Resources (City DCD)
   Link to NIDC and City housing programs
2. Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council
   Investigates housing discrimination and violations of fair lending practices. Provides education to landlords and organizations in fair housing and fair lending. Call 414-278-1240 to report housing discrimination.
3. Rental Housing Resource Center
   Rent & Energy Assistance, property issues, housing rights, relocating, landlord/tenant resources.
4. Section 8 Rent Assistance
   Helps low- and moderate-income families rent privately-owned housing by allowing them to pay only approximately 30% of their income toward their monthly rent. Administered both through the City (HACM) and Milwaukee County.
5. Take Root Milwaukee
   Consortium of over 50 community organizations, neighborhoods groups, HUD-certified housing counseling agencies, Realtors, and lenders working to promote sustainable homeownership in the City of Milwaukee. Take Root Milwaukee members offer free or low-cost services that can help you buy, keep, or fix a home. Call hotline at 414-921-4149.
6. Homes MKE
   City’s program to renovate and sell permanently affordable homes under shared-equity ground leases.
7. Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT)
   MCLT retains land to preserve affordability; open to low/moderate income families.
8. Milwaukee Energy Efficiency Program | ME2
   Provides homeowners with access to affordable energy-saving upgrades and assessments (insulation, air sealing, furnaces, etc.) through low-cost financing.
9. Milwaukee Home Down-Payment Assistance
   Grants up to $5,000 (or $7,000 in CDBG areas) for first-time buyers with income limits (e.g. ≤ $46,950 for 1-person; ≤ $88,550 for 8-person households) and required HUD-approved counseling.
10. Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
    City-administered funding for housing developers/nonprofits; supports homeownership developments for persons earning ≤ 100% county median, rentals ≤ 50% median.
11. Neighborhood Improvement Project (NIP)
    Forgivable loans for owner-occupants earning ≤ 60% of county median income (~$23.5k–$33.6k for 1–4 people), residing in NSP/CDBG area ≥5 years.

Mental Health & Behavioral Health Resources

1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
   Free, 24/7 call, text, or chat with trained specialists for anyone in emotional distress or crisis
   24/7 Crisis Support Dial 988
2. Mental Health Emergency Center (MHEC)
   County-wide psychiatric emergency department open 24/7 for crisis assessment, stabilization, and referrals.
3. Milwaukee County Access Clinics (North, East, South)
   Walk-in behavioral health and substance use crisis assessments, peer support, medication evaluation for uninsured/underinsured residents; sliding scale.
4. Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS)
   Treatment, recovery support, and care coordination for adults facing mental health and substance use challenges, including programs for pregnant women, families, peer support, employment services.
5. NAMI Southeast Wisconsin
   Free information, referrals, and support groups for individuals and families navigating mental health conditions.
   Support Groups 414-344-0447
6. Warmline, Inc.
   Peer-run emotional support (non-crisis) via phone; ideal for ongoing support, especially for those with mental health challenges.
   Peer Support 414-777-4729
7. Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center
   Free and confidential counseling for youth and families: runaways, homelessness, crisis support; includes 24/7 youth crisis hotline.
   Youth & Family 414-647-8200 | 2030 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53204

Neighborhood Data

1. Data You Can Use
   Access Neighborhood Portraits, Neighborhood Portraits, MKE Indicators, Neighborhood Change Over Time tools and more reports.
2. City of Milwaukee Property Data (tax and assessment information)

Small Business

1. Milwaukee’s Business Toolbox (City DCD)
   Lists commercial corridors team, BIDs, NIDS, department contacts, available real estate, tax credits, and other financing/workforce resources etc.
2. Commercial Revitalization Grants
   City of Milwaukee grants for signage, facades, storefront activation, Retail Investment Fund (RIF), etc.
3. BizStarts Milwaukee
   Offers coaching, mentoring and meaningful connections to resources for businesses and entrepreneurs.
4. Ethnic & Diverse Business Coalition
   Statewide network of small business chambers of commerce committed to improving the business environment for diverse businesses in the State.
5. WWBIC (Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp)
   Offers credit/financial wellness, classes/trainings, capital/lending, connections/coaching

Youth Services

1. Milwaukee Public Library
   Offers free events/resources, with a range of programs/activities for youth and after school. View Events Calendar here.
2. Milwaukee Recreation
   Offers recreational and educational programs for people of all ages, including youth sports leagues and other enrichment.
   Twilight Centers offer safe, fun spaces for young people with programming and extended after school hours.
3. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee
   Connecting youth to adult mentors.
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
   Programs and locations to serve kids of all ages.
5. Running Rebels
   Provides youth with mentoring, positive programming, and community connection.
6. SecureFutures
   Programs for connecting teens with mentors focused on financial education and empowerment.