Wisconsin Family Keys
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (WI DCF) initiated Wisconsin Family Keys after identifying a direct correlation between the end of the COVID eviction moratorium and increased rates of family separations. Wisconsin Family Keys is a pilot initiative that invited public child welfare system and community-based partners in three counties to design and implement housing interventions aimed at keeping families together who were experiencing housing instability and involvement with the child welfare system.
County child welfare agencies and community-based providers are utilizing housing resources in new, innovative ways to help families stabilize in their housing. The initiative has led to new relationships between county agencies, landlords, community partners and parents. Through WI Family Keys, families who were separated are reunifying more quickly or avoiding family separation. Additionally, over 90% of families served by the initiative report feeling that they had a choice in their housing solutions.