Wisconsin’s Poverty Fighting Network
WISCAP is Wisconsin’s official, and only, statewide network of poverty fighting agencies. Alongside our members, our network is responsible for operating food banks and pantries, homeless and domestic violence shelters, Headstart and early childhood programs, and many, many more. With over six decades of documented impact, our members do it all to make Wisconsin a better place to live.
WISCAP Helps Fill The Gap, Keeps People Housed After Abrupt Newcap Closure
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Join the Movement
Learn more about WISCAP and the incredible work of our members
Member Agencies
Pandemic Relief Aid Distributed
What We Do
Programs
Each local Community Action Agency provides a unique combination of programming to meet locally determined needs and goals.
Policy & Advocacy
WISCAP helps advocate for community resiliency, solutions to address poverty, and enhance financial stability.
Training & Events
WISCAP provides an annual menu of trainings to help member agencies and community partners develop capacity and connect to the broader community action movement.
Research
WISCAP works to deepen the networks’ ability to drive new research, enhance public communications and author publications on Poverty.
Our Impact
The Wisconsin Community Action Network has always believed we can achieve the impossible. For more than a half-century, we have dreamed big and pushed the boundaries to help everyone in Wisconsin thrive. We believe that focusing our energy on our most vulnerable, lowest-income neighbors creates lasting change for our whole community. Given our unique history, the Wisconsin Community Action Network is often called on to help tackle statewide problems and emergencies. One of the ways our network stepped in was during the pandemic, WISCAP and our member agencies were responsible for distributing over $725 million dollars in direct aid and pandemic relief. Across the nation, Wisconsin was one of the first states to successfully pilot large scale rental assistance programs to prevent mass evictions and keep Wisconsinites in their homes. We are proud of the strength and possibility of our poverty fighting network.
Happening Now
WISCAP Helps Fill The Gap, Keeps People Housed After Abrupt Newcap Closure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2026 WISCAP Helps Fill The Gap, Keeps People Housed After Abrupt Newcap Closure MADISON, Wis. – After the abrupt closure of Newcap in early 2026, individuals and families who relied on its services for housing were left scrambling...
Community Action Standards of Excellence
Connect to the Wisconsin Community Action Network
Upcoming Events
8 & 9
April
2025 Advocacy Training & Advocacy Day
Join us for an informational session to learn the best practices for visiting legislative offices, advocating for your agency and its programs and what is considered lobbying and what is not. Additionally we will be joined by legislators and members of the Governor’s Office who will share their own experiences with office visits and what they feel is the best way to be an advocate. To close out the day, we will hear from Mike Murray on Lobbying vs Advocacy.
27 & 28
October
Poverty Matters Conference
As Wisconsin’s only statewide conference, the Poverty Matters Conference serves as a regional platform to raise awareness on issues impacting low-income families.
View the Full Calendar
WISCAP Member Agencies
Why Support WISCAP?
WISCAP is Wisconsin’s official, and only, statewide network of poverty fighting agencies. Alongside our members, our network is responsible for operating food banks and pantries, homeless and domestic violence shelters, Headstart and early childhood programs, and many, many more. With over six decades of documented impact, our members do it all to make Wisconsin a better place to live.
Make a Donation
Sponsorship Opportunities
Ending Poverty to Ensure All Wisconsinites Thrive
The Wisconsin Community Action Program Association is a member association serving the statewide network of sixteen locally-controlled Community Action Agencies (CAA) and two special purpose agencies, Foundation for Rural Housing and UMOS. Incorporated in 1974, WISCAP traces its origins to the historic “War on Poverty” and has throughout its history advocated for community-informed policies and greater resource mobilization for its member agencies and the people they serve.
Our program focus areas are based on the needs of low-income people and the focus areas of our member agencies.
Housing Stability
WISCAP supports several statewide efforts to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
Workforce Development & Economic Security
WISCAP supports statewide efforts to ensure everyone has the skills and opportunities needed to achieve economic stability.
Health & Food Security
WISCAP’s supports statewide Health & Food Security efforts to ensure everyone has access to healthy nutritious food.