The Housing Situation of Low-Income Families in Milwaukee

This article uses survey findings to explain the housing situation of low-income fami-lies living in Milwaukee. The survey was conducted in late 1998 using a random sample of families that were on welfare in August 1997, the month before Wisconsin implemented its welfare replacement program, Wisconsin Works (W–2). The survey was conducted to examine the conversion process from welfare to W–2. In the analy-sis presented here, the survey’s seven housing questions were used as a lens through which to view family circumstances. The results show that roughly a quarter of the respondents had worst-case housing needs. Although respondents with worst-case housing needs were similar to other respon-dents in many respects, they were less likely to live with another adult, less likely to work, and more likely to rely on government assistance. Respondents receiving hous-ing assistance were more likely to receive government benefits and had lower total income and lower earnings from employment than those not receiving housing assis-tance, despite similar employment rates for the two groups. Respondents receivin