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Today we highlight Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service’s coverage of efforts to quell an eviction crisis in Milwaukee that is worsening as the pandemic drags on.
Princess Safiya Byers reports that the Social Development Commission is struggling to respond to a 24,000-applicant backlog for rental aid in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Washington counties.
The agency as of July 10 distributed $363,000 of its $6.7 million in federal assistance under the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program and contacted 16,000 people in its backlog to explain their place in the application process, she reports.
Community Advocates, which is separately distributing $7 million in federal housing aid, is sifting through a 1,500-application backlog, according to the report.
Are you a Milwaukeean who is worried about losing your home or apartment because of the pandemic? Share your experience with News414, Wisconsin Watch’s service journalism collaboration with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Outlier Media. Click here for details.
Top Stories
2 agencies struggle to meet demand for Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Businesses thought they were insured against unforeseen disasters. Then the coronavirus arrived. — Green Bay Press Gazette
Audit: Too much, not enough sent to Wisconsin unemployed — Associated Press
As scientists race toward a coronavirus vaccine, some worry that key steps might be missed — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Trump administration strips CDC of control of coronavirus data — The New York Times
Kohl’s and Pick ‘n Save announce they will start requiring masks to be worn in stores next week — The Journal Times
‘Think about other people’: Milwaukee’s mask mandate goes into effect Thursday — WTMJ-TV
What are we missing? And how are you coping? Help us provide critical information and accountability by filling out this form or emailing us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Government updates
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention
Quotable
“If everyone could wear a face covering over the next six weeks we could drive this (coronavirus) into the ground.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert R. Redfield, as quoted in several media outlets
Data to note
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Wednesday reported 821 new cases of COVID-19, with 5.9% of tests returning positive. The department reported one new death in a pandemic that has reportedly killed 827.
Here are the latest visualizations of COVID-19 cases and deaths from our partners at WisContext.
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Click here for more details on how the agency is measuring COVID-19 activity levels. The agency plans to update its data by 2 p.m. each Wednesday.
Resilient Wisconsin
People helping others and showing resilience during this time of anxiety. Send suggestions by tagging us on social media — @wisconsinwatch — or emailing us: tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Dane County on way to handing out 100,000 free face masks — Wisconsin State Journal
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The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
