Tenters in Wisconsin will have fewer resources at their disposal this fall. The Madison based Tenant Resource Center is scaling back its counseling services for those outside of Dane County.
Executive Director Brenda Konkel says they are no longer receiving federal and state funds in a time when fundraising is down. With cutbacks in city funding the Center must put much of their private donations toward local services which effects services they provide outside the Madison area.
The group provides a 1-800-number for people all around the state although it has been suspended since July 1. Konkel says they will decide by October 1 if the hotline will be permanently axed, depending on how many volunteers they can drum up. At that time, their other office in Milwaukee will definitely be shutting down.
Konkel says it’s unfortunate as renter/landlord complaints are among the top three consumer complaints in the state. Tenant Resource serves thousands of people a year with ten percent of those being landlords.
AUDIO: Konkel on fluctuating federal funding (:21)