The pre-pandemic spike in filings between 2019-2020 may be related to landlord-friendly policy changes implemented in Wisconsin Act 317 that became effective in April 2018. Filings decreased between 2021-2022 as a result of post-covid resources, such as the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which helped provide financial assistance to landlords to prevent evictions.  Additionally, the emergency ban on evictions which was in place during the pandemic was lifted in summer of 2021, which then increased the number of evictions locally.

Evictions have many negative impacts on a person or family’s wellbeing. Not only can evictions result in homelessness and doubled-up housing, dealing with the stress of an eviction can have harmful effects on a person’s physical and mental health. One 2016 study finds that dealing with the court process and aftermath of evictions can also put a person’s employment at risk. For families with children, evictions can cause children to miss or transfer schools entirely midyear, affecting their academic performance and long-term outcomes.

Furthermore, evictions cause a substantial barrier for people to obtain housing again, especially in a tight housing market. It’s important to note that even eviction filings, regardless of if the case was dismissed, remain on public record in Wisconsin.

Supports:

• Resource Guide for Renters and Landlords in Brown County
• UW-Extension Rent Smart trainings for tenants
• Landlord trainings offered through the Green Bay Police Department
• Tenant/Landlord Mediation supports through Mediation Center of Greater Green Bay
• Legal Advice through Legal Action of Wisconsin

Limiting Factors:

• Affordable housing stock - Nonpayment of rent is the most common reason for evictions. Ensuring that we have enough affordable housing stock to meet the needs of the low-income residents is key to addressing this issue.
• Low wages – Wages have not kept up with the rising cost of rent
• Financial resources for eviction prevention – Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) funds ended at the end of 2022
• Translation supports for non-English speakers, resulting in communication breakdowns with landlords
• Digital literacy – Many property management companies are moving to online systems for rent payments

Current Partners:

• Brown County Homeless and Housing Coalition
• Brown County Housing Authority
• Brown County Sherriff’s Office
• City of Green Bay Police Department
• Legal Action of Wisconsin

Potential Partnerships to grow:

• Landlords & Property Managers
• Mediation Center of Green Bay
• UW Extension
• CASA Alba
• COMSA
• We All Rise

Research/Evidence Based Practices:

• Increase the housing stock that low-income families and individuals can afford
• Increase the amount of financial rental assistance available in the community

Low Cost/No Cost Solutions

• Encouraging Mediation, especially before an eviction is filed – Mediation Center of Greater Green Bay
• Ensure tenants and landlords understand what emergency rent programs are available in the community
• Provide education to both landlords and tenants

Innovative Strategies

• Develop more programming for youth and adults focused on building wealth, building capital and fiscal literacy.
• Eviction Diversion programs 
• Legal Right to Counsel for Tenants 

The goal is to reduce the number of eviction filings in Brown County, ensuring that tenants and landlords have the support and resources they need to keep people in housing. 

The strategy for 2023 and beyond, includes some of the following projects:

• Create more robust training opportunities that are locally available for both landlords and tenants.
• Partner with Meditation Center of Greater Green Bay to encourage mediation prior to evictions being filed through the court system.
• Continue building ongoing, positive relationships between service providers and landlords/property managers.
• Ensuring there is eviction prevention funding available in the community.