Milwaukee housing costs on the rise; help available to renters

Housing costs rise; help available to renters

It may be a new year. but the cost of living in the Milwaukee area has been tight and many are feeling it.

MILWAUKEE - It may be a new year. but the cost of living in the Milwaukee area has been tight and many are feeling it.

Housing costs on the rise

What we know:

Lauren Brackenfelder considers herself really lucky. She has been living in the same apartment in Bay View for the past four years.

"The rent increases have been really modest," Brackenfelder said.

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It is a cost Bracken Felder said she appreciates, especially now, when finding an affordable place to live can be tough.

What they're saying:

"I think people are really feeling crushed from all sides. It's because inflation," Brackenfelder said. "I'm constantly hearing stories from my neighbors in Bay View who are having to move because their rents are jacked up and they're struggling to find a equivalent place in the same neighborhood. This is a major problem in Milwaukee."

Lauren Brackenfelder

Help is available:

Community Advocates is a resource that serves people in Milwaukee with assistance. While they were not able to provide FOX6 News with an on-camera interview, in a statement they said the following:

"We’ve seen an increase in the number of tenants who are feeling the squeeze from higher cost of living and housing expenses. We at Community Advocates help tenants to assess their situation and connect them to resources. We provide utilities and rental assistance to eligible Milwaukee residents, as well as other resources."