NEWCAP community action assistance programs.
The regional community action agency is NEWCAP. The non-profit provides assistance across several counties in Wisconsin. Residents can not only receive emergency financial assistance for paying rent or utility bills or basic needs such as free food or job training programs, but the organization can assist in other ways as well. This will include self-sufficiency type programs such as education, Head Start, and job training.
Some of the financial aid offered by NEWCAP includes money for paying expenses, with a focus on housing issues. Case managers can be a good resource to learn about rental assistance or low income housing, foreclosure and rent help, as well as heating bill assistance from LIHEAP. The non-profit provides services across Brown, Forest, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano, and Vilas Counties in Wisconsin.
Financial aid from NEWCAP
The federal government EFSP, or Emergency Food and Shelter Program, supplements and expands the work of local non-profit and governmental Social Services agencies. The program can be used for paying basic needs and that are non-disaster-related economic emergencies. When the grant exists, funds are typically provided for one month's rent/mortgage and/or utility bill assistance.
The main government agency, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funds go towards paying costs such as rent, heating bills, mortgages, food programs and utility expenses. When funding becomes available, a local board made up of groups such as NEWCAP and Catholic Charities determines the services to be provided in each county.
When applying, applicants will need to have a utility, mortgage or rent payment past due. Or it can be upcoming and due to be paid within 5 days. EFSP can also help those with an eviction notice are eligible for assistance provided they have exhausted all other resources. So they need to have contacted other non-profit and local charities in Bwon and othrwr counties. They need to have used up all energy bill assistance. The funds from the government must guarantee at least 30 days of additional shelter or service.
Residents of Brown, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano, Vilas, Forest, Florence, Langlade, Marinette, Lincoln, and Marathon can apply for help from the Emergency Food Assistance Program or contact a pantry. The NEWCAP Food Assistance Program provides emergency food supplies for households in a crisis situation.
The agency and TEFAP supplements food pantries as well as soup kitchens/shelters in 11 counties with essential commodities. Shelter or soup kitchens use these commodities to prepare congregate meals for the poor and low income. The are located at:
Brown County, The Dorothy Rosenberg Goodwill Place at First United Methodist Church, 518
Doty St., Green Bay, WI 54302
Resurrection Lutheran, 1024 Shawano Ave., Green Bay, WI 54303
Forest County, NEWCAP, Inc., 212 N Lake Ave., Crandon, Wisconsin 54520
The Salvation Army, 626 Union Ct., Green Bay, WI 54303
Manna for Life, 1599 University Ave., Mail: POB 8551, Green Bay, WI 54308
Three Lakes Christian Food Pantry, Three Lakes Community Building, 6965 W School St., Mail: POB 125, Three Lakes, WI 54562
Denmark Community Cupboard, Park St., Mail: 425 E. Grand Ave., Denmark, WI 54208
Florence County, St. Vincent De Paul Pantry, 400 Central Ave., Mail: POB 92, Florence, WI 54121
Langlade County, Operation Compassion, N2142 Hwy 45 S, Mail: 514 Lincoln St., Antigo, WI 54409
White Lake Area Christian Food Pantry, 638 Bissell St., Mail: POB 111, White Lake, WI 54491
Lincoln County, Community Food Pantry of Merrill, 401 W Main St., Merrill, Wisconsin 54452
Marathon County, The Neighbors' Place, 745 Scott St., Wausau, Wisconsin 54403
Marinette County, NEWCAP office at 1939 Hall Ave., Marinette, WI 54143
Peshtigo Food Pantry, 240 McCaag, Mail: POB 53, Peshtigo, Wisconsin 54157
Pastor Fred's Food Pantry, N15088 Cleveland St., Mail: POB 117, Amberg, WI 54102
Oconto County, NEWCAP, Inc., 1201 Main St., Oconto, WI 54153
Vilas Food Pantry, 1013 Railroad St., Mail: POB 761, Eagle River, WI 54521
Oneida County, Lakeland Food Pantry, 1707 Hwy 51 N, Arbor Vitae, WI 54568, Mail: POB 470, Woodruff, WI 54568
Rhinelander Area Food Pantry, 436 N Brown St., Rhinelander, WI 54501
Shawano County, SAFPARC, 218 E Richmond St., Mail: POB 570, Shawano, WI 54166
Vilas County, Community Food Pantry, Community Church of Boulder Junction, 10441 Main
St., Mail: POB 14, Boulder Junction, Wisconsin 54512
Find help with utility bills from the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, or WHEAP. It provides low-income and poor Wisconsin residents with financial assistance to help them with meeting heating costs, including gas bills. Low income households from the several counties, including Brown and Menominee, that are facing a fuel crisis may qualify for cash grants, including crisis supplement and/or co-payment benefits. Learn more on, and find details on WHEAP low income energy bill assistance.
Energy conservation from the Weatherization Program is available. This is funded through the State of Wisconsin with funds coming in from the federal government U.S. Department of Energy, WHEAP and Public Benefits.
NEWCAP oversees the Weatherization Program in the region. Iit aims to address major heat loss sources in low-income and older homes. First priority for weatherization is given to working poor families that are considered high-energy users. This will be determined based on the amount of other energy assistance the family receives. Other eligible applicants from the various counties are considered only after the priority list is exhausted.
As part of the process an energy auditor determines how much work needs to be done to the home. After the audit is completed, a crew starts the prescribed updates that are needed under the supervision of a field coordinator. The work done is free as a government grants pays for it. It may include working on attics and sidewalls, insulating, caulking and replacing water heaters and furnaces. Counties covered from this free energy program are Brown, Forest, Marinette, Florence, Menominee, Oconto, and Shawano counties.
Rent and mortgage help is from the Transitional Shelter Grant Program, Emergency Solutions, and Homeless Prevention Program. As funding allows, it provides eligible individuals/families that are literally homeless or at risk of homelessness with rental assistance by paying a portion their rent through NEWCAP. Only a partial payment is made so the tenant will be responsible for the balance rent amount. The amount of rent that the ETH pays is based on the individual’s or family’s income.
NEWCAP can also arrange free legal aid to stop evictions. There are a number of pro-bono firms, volunteer attorneys, and even government funded firms in counties such as Brown, Florence, Oneida and the region. Some of these lawyers focus on helping tenants who are behind on their rent and/or utility bills, and who may have a pay or quit notice. There may be representation in housing court, landlord-tenant mediation services and other support. Read more on and find free eviction attorneys near you.
Rapid Re-Housing is when NEWCAP helps individuals/families who are literally homeless and living on the streets or in an emergency shelter transition. The housing assistance program aims to provide the homeless individual with appropriate permanent housing as quickly as possible. More importantly, social workers help such persons achieve stability in that housing.
Another component is Homelessness Prevention. This program assists low income and poor individuals and households who are at risk of becoming evicted or facing a foreclosure. Upon approval of their application, applicants have to attend an interview or briefing session held by NEWCAP. At this session the program details and their responsibilities are explained to them. After the tenant has located a unit, it needs to be deemed as safe, sanitary and decent under the Housing Quality Standards regulations.
A Housing Assistance Payment Contract will be used by the community action agency. As part of this agreements, the tenant and the landlord enter into a 12-month lease agreement. Case Managers from NEWCAP will then conduct monthly home visits to assess individual goals and financial management. As part of this ongoing case management process any employment concerns, landlord/tenant issues and other goals will be identified through various evacuations.
In addition, all families from counties such as Brown or Forest that are participating in the program are required to attend workshops on self-sufficiency. Families exiting the program are provided with follow-up services.
The Foreclosure Intervention Program helps low-income individuals who are behind on their mortgage. Aid is for those that are in danger of losing their home to foreclosure. NEWCAP may provide financial assistance that allows them to catch up on mortgage payments.
Homeowners who do not qualify based on the program eligibility criteria can still avail of assistance in the form of budget and credit counseling, understanding the terms and conditions associated with foreclosure and communicating with the mortgage company. All of this is done in an attempt to work out any possible alternatives to foreclosure.
Some people may benefit from the Homebuyer Program. It may provide a maximum of $10,000 to low-moderate income homebuyers. The money needs to be used to help with paying down payment and closing costs. The maximum amount paid out is based on the homebuyer’s needs and their income. The funds, which will be in the form of a non-interest bearing low interest loan, will have to be repaid to NEWCAP upon the sale of the home or when it is no longer the primary residence.
Counseling from the Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program helps individuals and families with Section 8 vouchers become financially independent. Its primary focus is to help families obtain good jobs and earn enough money so they do not need public cash assistance.
The NEWCAP FSS Program helps low-income families living in low income and public housing obtain the education, employment and the business/social skills necessary for them to achieve self-sufficiency. A plan is created for each family, taking into account their financial goals. It will also consider the kind of supportive services necessary to meet them these.
Case managers from NEWCAP also work together with the local housing authority and other non-profit community agencies to help families obtain the services they need. A unique feature of this self-sufficiency program is that when a family's earned income increases, instead of merely reducing the amount of rent assistance they receive from the government, what happens instead is that an amount equal to the reduction in assistance is placed in an escrow savings account for the family.
Additional rent help from the federal government Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Program is for people facing eviction or the homeless in Wisconsin, including the counties of Oconto, Brown, and Oneida. Individuals or families who are disabled or families that have a disabled family member are given preference. First priority is also given to victims fleeing domestic violence, second to youth aging out of foster care and lastly to those paying more than 55% of their income toward rent and at high risk of becoming homeless.
Any rental assistance payments will be sent directly to the landlord. In this TBRA program inspections of the apartment will need to occur, applicants need to enroll into self-Sufficiency, credit counseling, and attend follow up.
Job training and educational services
The NEWCAP Skills Enhancement Program helps individuals develop new skills, prepare for a job or update current skills. This is available while they continuing to work at their current jobs. This can be done by attending school or job training part-time.
NEWCAP also offers financial assistance for training or school, They do this by reimbursing education related expenses and training related transportation, books, covering childcare costs and offering long term, ongoing support. Some some educational bills can be paid for. As the individual works towards goals and the plan that was developed, they get the help and support they need from NEWCAP and its case managers.
The main state and federal job training program is the Workforce Investment Act. This Case Management Program helps individuals within the Job Center to access services, gain employment or secure additional job training to increase their employability. WIA Case Managers are located at locations in Shawano County, Marinette County Job Center, Niagara APS (Access Point of Service), Florence region, and the Oconto County Job Center. The Case Manager from a WIA office is responsible for the following services with the client.
- Determining program eligibility for all customers referred to the WIA system.
- Provide details on positions from local employers.
- Coordinating job placement, training, resume review up to and including placement activities.
- Screening and coordinating WIA services with other Job Center partners in Langlade and other counties.
- Reviewing all applications qualifications for training from WIA.
- Assisting with Individual Training Account application and non-WIA financial aid.
- Preparing and submitting required federal government paperwork within the stipulated timeline.
- Offering advice, supportive and follow-up services.
Free school supplies to low-income children is from the Back to School Program. The availability of these school supplies depends on donations received from the community. Similar to that is the Coats for Kids Program, which provides gently used winter coats during winter for children from low-income families. Families are encouraged to bring the children with them on the distribution date, so the children can select their own coat.
Transportation from Work-n-Wheels helps income-eligible individuals to obtain an affordable, dependable vehicle to get to work-related activities. Individuals who are eligible may receive a no-interest loan of up to $4,500 to buy an appropriate a vehicle. The NEWCAP program is also commonly known as Ways to Work.
The goal of this program is to help people get a car for work. Ways to Work, from NEWCAP, encourages employment and helps low income (or formerly unemployed people) get the car they need for work. Ways to Work provides low interest or affordable loans as needed. Read more on, and find car loans for unemployed.
How to apply for help from NEWCAP community action
There are several NEWCAP Locations. They include the following.
1381 West Mason Street, Green Bay, WI 54303, phone number 920-430-1350
1201 Main Street, Oconto, WI 54153, telephone 920-834-4621
212 North Lake Avenue, Crandon, Wisconsin 54520, call 715-478-3871
1939 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143, phone 715-732-4171
1605 University Drive, Suite C, Marinette, WI 54143, telephone number 715-732-7840
603 East Wall Street, Eagle River, WI 54521, call 715-479-335
612 Lake Avenue, Florence, Wisconsin 54121, phone 715-528-4346
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