Evers announces $8 million for legal service access

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Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday an $8 million grant to support Wisconsinites who need legal assistance to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant will be made to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc. (WisTAF), a nonprofit established in 1986, to fund civil legal aid organizations statewide and to build a Wisconsin Law Help website, a user-friendly online legal assistance portal that will help individuals access accurate legal information. The website is collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Legal Assistance Committee and the Wisconsin State Law Library

“This support for WisTAF will help reduce barriers to legal assistance for many Wisconsinites seeking to rebuild their lives and livelihoods and get back on their feet.”” said Gov. Evers.

WisTAF is the leading state-based funder of legal aid in Wisconsin. The grant announced today will allow WisTAF and its partner organizations to furnish civil legal aid interventions to those who face foreclosure, eviction and other housing-related problems due to COVID-19; need legal assistance to access unemployment benefits, workforce opportunities or health coverage; or still struggle with other economic hardships related to the pandemic.

Wisconsin Law Help is supported by a steering committee that includes organizations from across the state, including LIFTWisconsin, Centro Legal, Northcentral Technical College, University of Wisconsin Law School, Milwaukee Justice Center, Wisconsin Judicare and others.

The WisTAF grant will be administered by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) and is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).