Community Advocates was grateful to receive the BMO Cornerstone Award at the 25th Annual MANDI Awards in Milwaukee. The award honors Community Advocates' long-standing commitment to our community and effectiveness over time.

Community Advocates' CEO Andi Elliott was recognized yesterday at the 11th annual BizTimes Nonprofit Excellence Awards as a finalist in the Nonprofit Executive of the Year category. We were in good company at the Italian Community Center as the ballroom filled with executives, board members, and staff for some of the most influential nonprofit organizations in our community.

Every month Community Advocates' Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee (ECOM) hosts a workshop specific to exploring topics that are vital to professionals who show up eager to expand their knowledge of human services. Workshops are held on the third Wednesday of the month and are lively, engaging, and diverse with professional and lived experiences. July's topic was Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse, Child Abuse and Neglect.

It has been almost five years since Community Advocates connected with Milwaukee muralist Mauricio Ramirez to bring color and culture to the east side of our downtown offices. Titled "Heart & Sol," the 6th Street-facing mural represents the vibrancy and diversity of our Milwaukee neighborhood as two girls gaze over our city into the future.

Community Advocates' Milwaukee Women's Center gratefully welcomed country music singer/songwriter Steven Cade to Milwaukee yesterday.

During the RNC convention, Community Advocates’ downtown offices, 728 N. James Lovell St., will be closed for in-person meetings and appointments from Monday, July 15, through Friday, July 19. Staff will be working remotely to provide services.

Nina is grateful for the kindness, support, and encouragement that the staff of the Milwaukee Women’s Center has provided as she continues her journey toward self-sufficiency.

We are honored to present our inaugural Community Advocates Impact Report, which highlights the individuals we had the privilege to serve and the positive impact of our programs throughout 2023.

The world observed the 25th anniversary of Denim Day on April 24, the day devoted to wearing jeans to show support for survivors of sexual assault, services for survivors, and creating violence-free communities. Locally, those connected to the Milwaukee Women’s Center marked the day by decorating jeans, tie-dyeing T-shirts, making poster boards, and picking up garbage around the neighborhood.

During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate the resilience of generations of women, girls, and female-headed families who have been part of the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s community of care.

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute invites proposals from not-for-profit organizations or government entities servicing Milwaukee County to provide substance misuse prevention programming and services.

We're grateful to be recognized in the "Diamonds and Discoveries" section of the Milwaukee Community Journal on December 7. Community Advocates CEO Andi Elliott discussed her career journey from student intern at UWM School of Social Work to CEO of the organization.

Karen Delvecchio volunteered to lead a redesign of a room at the Milwaukee Women’s Center Emergency Shelter. The shelter is home to a steady stream of adults and kids who have survived domestic violence or homelessness, and each room must withstand a good amount of wear and tear over time.

Community Advocates' property tax foreclosure prevention program helps homeowners in Milwaukee who fell behind on their property tax payments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Advocates met with other Milwaukee advocacy groups, including Habitat for Humanity and The Legal Aid Society, at Marquette University at United Way's 2023 Project Homeless Connect to raise awareness of Community Advocates and Community Advocates Public Policy Institute's services for Milwaukee's unhoused community.

Shamara works in the WI Housing Support Services Program at Community Advocates to help tenants find resources for their housing.

This month we’re highlighting the work of Astrid Ryan, a Bilingual English/Spanish Disability Services Advocate at Community Advocates. Our SSI and Disability and Advocacy programs provide much-needed services for those who are living with a disability and trying to navigate various systems so that they can live with dignity.

February is Black History Month, when we raise awareness of and appreciate the myriad accomplishments and experiences of African Americans. This year’s theme is “Black Resistance.”

Community Advocates' Reality Check highlighted potentially hidden items that may indicate a youth is engaging in form of risky behavior involving substance use, while also guiding parents of youth through Small Talks tips.

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) helps out parents (and some grandparents and aunts and uncles and other primary caregivers). The CTC for 2021 was bigger and better. Most parents already received monthly CTC payments last year, but they need to file a 2021 tax return to get the full amount due. Here's what you need to know.

In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), we’re drawing attention to the work being done by our Milwaukee Women’s Center staff who serve in the Family Intervention Program (FIP). FIP is a nontraditional no-cost outpatient substance use disorder treatment program that serves Latinx and their families in English and Spanish, as well as African Americans.

As we discussed in our June 2 community conversation with Senator Tammy Baldwin, the American Rescue Plan includes an important (but temporary) expansion of the Child Tax Credit. The rollout of the expanded Child Tax Credit will happen in July 2021. While we are still gathering details on how this will happen, who is eligible, and what recipients should expect, please note that we will be updating this website with information as we receive it.

The late Paul Hauer’s clothing—hundreds of pieces in perfect condition ranging from everyday essentials to shoes to business suits—will be distributed to individuals participating in The Bottomless Closet’s services for job seekers overcoming barriers to enter or rejoin the workforce.

Milwaukee Women’s Center welcomes its new Emergency Shelter Manager, Shamika May. Ms. May joined our staff in February and she brings with her a wealth of experience in health care and long-term care. Her experience in both patient care and facility management will no doubt be an asset to our shelter for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence or homelessness.

Community Advocates is thrilled and honored to accept a donation from The Jack and Barbara Recht Family Fund. This contribution will enable our Homeless Outreach and Supportive Housing Programs to continue to assist individuals who are living on the streets or are transitioning from the streets into permanent housing. 

The Milwaukee Women’s Center’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment counselors have shifted to telehealth options to provide outpatient treatment and support to their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team is made up of State of Wisconsin certified counselors or counselors in training, with a combined 40-plus years of experience.

A big thank you goes out to the Milwaukee chapter of WhoIsHussain?, which has been helping the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s guests for many months.

Community Advocates' statement on the CDC's temporary eviction moratorium. “The new moratorium will help our clients avoid homelessness, but it’s important for renters to know that they must continue paying rent and that rent assistance is available,” Andi Elliott, CEO of Community Advocates, said.

Declaration form for temporary halt in evictions due to COVID-19 financial hardship.

Frequently asked questions about the September 2020 federal eviction moratorium for tenants impacted by COVID-19.

The new eviction moratorium from the Centers for Disease Control does not forgive rent or prevent late fees; tenants are still required to pay their rent as usual to prevent an eviction after the moratorium expires, even if they have lost income due to COVID-19. Milwaukee County residents can seek help from Community Advocates.

Community Advocates is pleased to announce that the Rental Housing Resource Center is working in partnership with the Milwaukee County Eviction Prevention Funds to assist Milwaukee County residents in need of rental assistance.

Community Advocates’ core values of dignity and respect for all we serve guides us in our work each day. We are incensed by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Dontre Hamilton, Sylville Smith, Tony McDade, Joel Acevedo and countless other men and women whose lives have been stolen, many at the hands of law enforcement. 

You can help Milwaukee’s most vulnerable neighbors in need by donating to Community Advocates on #GivingTuesdayNow. Click here to make your gift today.

The state of Wisconsin has been working to get the online systems in place for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. 

Community Advocates' priority is the health and well-being of our staff, clients, community partners, and volunteers during the coronavirus public health emergency. Here, we're collecting resources to help our community members meet their basic needs, like energy assistance, rent, food access, and more.

Community Advocates' priority is the health and well-being of our staff, clients, community partners, and volunteers during the coronavirus public health emergency. Here, we're collecting resources to help promote health and wellness during this difficult time.

Community Advocates is concerned about the health and safety of those who access our services and our employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Therefore, we are temporarily closed to the public but will be offering services over the phone or by email.

Due to the Coronavirus public health emergency, we are temporarily closing our physical locations and moving to phone appointments. If you are having a no heat emergency, call 2-1-1 In the best interest of the health and safety of our staff and those we serve; we are temporarily closing our sites.

To connect more residents with Energy Assistance benefits, the Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program is offering extended hours in March.

To mark National Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Tre Rivali (200 N. Broadway, Milwaukee) and The Outsider (310 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee) will feature specialty cocktails to pay homage to the inspirational women in our lives. $1 of each cocktail sold will be donated to the Milwaukee Women’s Center.

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is proud to be a partner in the City of Milwaukee’s free gun lock distribution initiative. The Milwaukee-based Master Lock Company donated 1,000 keyed gun locks to the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, which is distributing them to community partners and individuals. The gun locks are available upon request at Community Advocates’ downtown offices’ front desk at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee, during regular business hours.

Community Advocates’ offices will be closed on December 24 & 25 and December 31 & January 1 to celebrate the holidays. The Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program will not be taking appointments on those days.

Learn more about Community Advocates’ busy 2018 in our annual report! As Community Advocates’ Board President Sheree Dallas Branch writes in the introduction, “In the City of Milwaukee, 27% of our neighbors live below the poverty line, a number that is more than double the national average."

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute was thrilled to support its Founding Director and Senior Fellow David Riemer’s latest endeavor, the book Putting Government in Its Place: The Case for a New Deal 3.0, in which David argues that the New Deal Era is not dead. In fact, now is the perfect time to update it to address our current needs and disparities.

We recently received this note from a Bay View renter who was having problems with getting his landlord to repair his apartment. Thankfully, this renter found Community Advocates' Housing Department. Here’s the note.

On October 24, Community Advocates had the great pleasure of celebrating the completion of Mauricio Ramirez’s mural on the east side of our downtown offices. Titled “Heart & Sol,” the nearly 5,000-square-foot mural portrays Milwaukee’s residents through the images of two girls looking north and south.

Our wonderful staff at Milwaukee Women's Center is wearing purple all month to support survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Remember: You are never alone. Call our crisis line 24/7 at 414-671-6140 if you need to talk to someone. We believe survivors.

Bryan House, a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, had been volunteering with the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County when he was approached in 2011 to serve on Community Advocates’ board. At the time, Community Advocates had just acquired and renovated an old warehouse at 728 N. James Lovell St. in downtown Milwaukee to serve as our central offices, a “one-stop shop” that could meet the diverse needs of our community members.

Through the groups and while working with her counselor from the Milwaukee Women's Center's POWER program, April learned new ways to cope with stress and to stay clean and sober. "I use a lot of coping skills and they help a lot with my triggers to marijuana and getting through things," April says. "I know that life isn’t an easy ride and to have my mind set on what I want to do with my life."