The Monroe County Housing Authority and Tomah Public Housing Authority have agreed to merge operations, in a move that will streamline services and open up housing options for the people the two agencies serve.
Because both agencies are so small, merging will make operations more efficient and clients will only have to deal with one program, said Rachel Muehlenkamp, executive director of the Tomah Public Housing Authority.
She said she is anticipating that the move will lead to a slight increase in the number of people the combined agency could help.
“With our current funding, it’s possible we’ll be able to serve more clients,” she said.
The agencies each run a Section 8 housing choice voucher program that helps low-income people pay part of their rent, and they also own and manage apartment units that house families, senior citizens and disabled people. People who receive help typically pay 30% to 40% of their adjusted gross income as their portion of the rent.