Waunakee nonprofits tell village board rental assistance demand outpaces funds more than 10-to-1

Waunakee Neighborhood Connection and the Waunakee Ecumenical Board told the Waunakee Village Board on July 22 that requests for rent and utility help among renters and other residents have risen sharply and far outpace available local funds. Lydia Silva Rios, community resource manager at Waunakee Neighborhood Connection, said from January through June the group received 27 “neighbor to neighbor” applications requesting $32,010 in rent assistance while the nonprofit was only able to distribute $3,000, supporting six households with $500 each.

The shortage is large and immediate. "That means the need outweighed our resources by more than 10 to 1," Silva Rios said. Jennifer Kusha, president of the Waunakee Ecumenical Board, said her group also typically provides $500 per request and is on track to distribute roughly $27,000–$30,000 this year for rent and utilities, but that amount covers only a small share of total need.

Why it matters: board members and presenters said gaps in local rental assistance risk evictions, especially among single parents, seniors and households with sudden bills or reduced hours. Presenters described cases including a single father starting a new job, a family facing eviction with $3,000 owed, and a parent whose hours were cut because of summer care needs for a neurodivergent child.

WNC and the Ecumenical Board outlined how they vet requests and tie households to other services; both organizations said the assistance they give functions as short-term relief while case management and referrals aim to help households stabilize. Silva Rios said the typical WNC payment is a one-time $500 payment per household per year; Kusha confirmed the Ecumenical Board’s assistance is also typically $500 per request and delivered directly to landlords or utilities.

Board response and next steps: Village board members thanked the presenters and asked practical questions about whether $500 is enough, how applicants are connected to other programs, and what the village might do. Village Board President (unnamed) asked village staff to follow up with program options. The board directed the Community Development Authority to research municipal or regional programs other communities have used, identify potential funding sources, and report back to the board.

Presenters asked the village to consider direct funding or other sustained supports that would reduce repeat crises. Veronica Castillo, executive director of Waunakee Neighborhood Connection, and the Ecumenical Board indicated donation paths for residents who want to contribute: WNC accepts donations designated to the Neighbor-to-Neighbor fund via its website QR code and the Ecumenical Board accepts donations via wanakeefoodpantry.org.

The board did not adopt a funding commitment at the meeting; the action was a staff referral to the Community Development Authority to research options and return with findings.