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| Energy | Cell Phone | Food | Clothing |
| Housing | AODA | Legal | Healthcare |
| Other |
Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)
Assistance includes regular heating and electric assistance, as well as specialized services including emergency fuel assistance, counseling for energy budgets, and emergency furnace repair and replacement. Lincoln County Dept of Social Services 607 N Sales St Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-536-6200 Apply online here (will need valid e-mail address and Social Security Number to apply) Please click HERE for eligibility requirements. | Emergency Assistance Primarily for housing crisis situations but also has energy assistance component. Go to "Other Resources" section on this page or click HERE for more information. Provides energy assistance to Veterans. |
Provides free or reduced cell phone and/or land line service to eligible households in Wisconsin. There are a number of national providers for Lifeline including Safelink and Q-Link. Both have service areas in Wisconsin but that does not mean that the cell coverage is very good. It is advised you research HERE for the best provider in your area. Eligibility Requirements: must be a recipient of one of the following public assistance programs:
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program - Forward Health WI Temporary program to help families and households afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. To learn more including eligibility and enrollment information call 833-511-0311 or click HERE. |
Community Action Program (CAP) Food Pantry
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Breaking Bread Community Meal
Meals served the 3rd Thursday of every month from 4:30pm-6:00pm Eagle's Club 1205 Lake St. Merrill, WI 54452 Dinner at Five Every Monday night a community table at Saint Stephens 5:00pm-6:00pm St. Stephens United Church 903 E. 2nd St Merrill, WI 54452 Lincoln County Department of Social Services 607 N Sales St Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 888-445-1621 NEWCAP Provides emergency food supplies for households to food pantries and soup kitchens/shelters. Ph: 800-242-7334 |
Career Closet
Serves men and women in need of clothing for interviewing or employment. Individuals may take up to two outfits at no cost to help them start their wardrobe. Tuesdays: (3:00-5:00pm) Wednesdays:(11:00am-1:00pm) Thursdays: (12:00-2:00pm)
705 S 24th Ave. Suite 440 Wausau WI 54401 (Closet entrance located off of Helmke Street.)
Helping Hands Bargain Center
Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm and Saturday from 8:30am-3:00pm 407 Grand Ave Merrill, WI 54452
| St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-5:00pm and Friday/Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm. Can get a FREE clothing voucher for the thrift store by visiting the SVDP Outreach office at 503 S. Center Ave, Merrill. 1004 E Main St Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-539-1131 Get a FREE clothing voucher from Tomahawk Salvation Army St. Mary's Church 320 E Washington Ave Tomahawk, WI 54487 Ph: 715-453-2878 |
North Central Health Care
Provides crisis services, outpatient and inpatient services, OWI assessment services, substance abuse day treatment, community treatment services, and family support services. Merrill Center Tomahawk Office Crisis Hotline (emergency and crisis care available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week): 715-845-4326 or 800-799-0122 |
Legal aid office for low-income residents.
401 5th Street Suite #200 Wausau, WI 54403 Ph: 715-842-1681 | Legal
hotline offers general legal information and lawyer referral through
the State Bar of Wisconsin.
Ph: 800-362-9082 |
The IM Central Consortium administers a number of medical assistance programs including BadgerCare Plus, Family Planning, Community Waivers, Nursing Home and Elderly-Blind-Disabled medicare programs. Lincoln County Department of Social Services 607 N Sales St Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 888-794-5722 St. Vincent De Paul Community Care Provides individual assistance to anyone who is lacking the basic necessities of life. Free clinic open only Thursday nights at 5:00pm. Offers primary medical care, onsite pharmacy. Patients should arrive between 5:00pm-6:00pm to register and are seen on a first come, first serve basis after registration hour. 401 W Main St. Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-539-9566 401 West Main Street Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-539-8181 (medical) or 715-627-4383 (dental)
| Aging and Disability Resource Center Promotes choice and independence through personalized education. advocacy, and access to services that prevent, delay, and lessen the impacts of aging and disabilities in the lives of adults. Available Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm. 607 N Sales St. Suite 206 Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-536-0311 Lincoln County Health Department Provides
services to residents promoting optimal health and safety through
prevention, protection, and intervention. Available Monday - Friday from
8:00am - 4:30pm. 607 N Sales St Suite 101 Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-536-0307
North Central Health Care Center Provides comprehensive community health care 607 N Sales St. Suite 309 Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-536-9482 |
WRAP - Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program The Rental Assistance Program can award up to $3000 per individual in a combination of rental payments and/or security deposits. Information on where to apply can be found here Primarily for housing crisis situations. Go to "Other Resources" section on this page or click HERE for more information. Merrill Area Housing Authority Provider of decent, safe, maintenance free and independent affordable housing. Ph: 715-722-1081 Northcentral Community Action Program Provides emergency rental assistance or emergency lodging. Help for those facing homelessness. Weatherization program for energy efficiency. 503 S. Center Ave Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-536-9581 Warming Centers
| Our Sister's House Homeless Shelter Provide immediate temporary housing to individuals and families. Offers assistance in employment search, education, medical care, and counseling services. Residents allowed to stay up to 3 months. 328 E Washington Street Tomahawk, WI 54487 Ph: 715-224-3520 Merrill Area Homeless Shelter (MAC) Warming center open every night for individuals. Intake from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Immediate temp housing for individuals and families. Offer assistance in employment search and finding permanent housing. Residents allowed to stay up to 3 months. 407 W Main St Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-722-1200 Provides emergency assistance including utilities (max. $300), food, clothing, and shelter vouchers to eligible individuals in an emergency or disaster situation. May also provide rent, mortgage, or security deposit payment assistance. 108 W Somo Ave. Tomahawk, WI 54487 Ph: 715-453-5939 Lincoln County Housing Authority Provides housing assistance to low income residents. 402 S Park Drive Tomahawk, WI 54487 Ph: 715-453-4233
Housing assistance may be provided on case-by-case basis. Only one single month of assistance may be provided. For example, if an individual is behind three (3) months of rent, FSET can only fund a maximum of one (1) of those months of rent. If an individual is homeless or has to move, FSET may be able to fund both the security deposit and first month’s rent. The FSET participant needs to contact their assigned FSET case manager. |
Wisconsin Shares (Child Care Assistance) Wisconsin Shares is Wisconsin's child care subsidy program that helps families and caretakers pay for child care.
The service provider for Wisconsin Shares in Lincoln County is:
Wisconsin Child Care Provider Listing | Childcaring - Central Wisconsin Child Care Resource and Referral Agency Call
or meet with a referral specialist who will conduct a computerized
search for regulated child care programs which best meet your needs.
1500 Merrill Ave Suite 201 Wausau, WI 54401 Ph: 715-301-1800
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm (Please call the office before stopping by to ensure a staff member is available) |
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation **Effective 11/1/21, Veyo replaced MTM, inc. as the DHS contracted NEMT provider Transportation service for non-emergency medical appointments for recipients of medical assistance. You can get rides to/from non-emergency medical appointments or you can get reimbursed for your trips to/from non-emergency medical appointments. To schedule a ride call: 866-907-1493 Or schedule through the member portal Must call 2 days in advance. Trip logs can be found here.Public transportation in Merrill area. Available Monday-Friday from 7:00am - 5:00pm. Cost: General is $2.00 and Elderly/Disabled is $1.00. 1004 E 1st St. #10 Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-536-7122 Free service that brings commuters together for carpooling and bicycle commuting.
Job Access Loan A short term loan program for individuals with minor children to meet emergency needs related to employment. Forward Service Corporation Application and Resource Hot Line Phone: 1-855-733-1311 | Wanta Ride Provider of taxi service. Ph: 715-771-0425 Blue Jay Taxi Provider of taxi service Ph: 715-539-7112 Wisconsin Association of Mobility Managers Operate shared-ride taxi services, intercity buses, local transit and paratransit services, teach people how to use transit, coordinate trips between agencies, manage volunteer driver programs, educate communities about transportation options, organize van pools and car pools, run one call centers and more. Ph: 608-372-3971 #61556 Email: terrance.dwyer@va.gov Ask for Terrance Dwyer - Lincoln County Mobility ManagerNo-interest vehicle repair and purchase loans across the service area. You need to be low-income to be eligible for a WETAP loan. You also need to
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W-2 is a time-limited program that provides temporary cash assistance and case management services to low-income parents and pregnant women. W-2 is a work program for adults willing to engage in work activities; it is not an entitlement. Forward Service Corp - Lincoln County 607 North Sales St. Merrill, WI 53530 Application and Resource Hot Line Phone: 1-855-733-1311 Provide support and services for individuals with developmental disabilities as well as support for people of all ages with varying needs. Wausau Office: 1720 Merrill Ave #100 Wausau, WI 54401 Ph: 715-298-4087 Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – Community Services Provides residents of Lincoln County with parenting skills and numerous methods to strengthen families. Offer Drop-In Playtime; Ask the Experts information meeting and a library of information on various topics concerning parenting and the welfare of families. Available by appointment 201 B Stange St. Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 715-539-9228 Free Taxes Every household with a simple return, can file federal and state taxes for free through https://www.myfreetaxes.com/ |
Emergency Assistance
If you’re about to lose your home or have utilities shut off, Emergency Assistance may be able to help. You may qualify for Emergency Assistance if:
Forward Services Corp. 607 N Sales St. Merrill, WI 54452 Ph: 1-800-771-8420 Lincoln Industries Provider of services for individuals with developmental disabilities. 912 Memorial Dr. Merrill, WI 54452 or 1775 Kaphaem Rd. Tomahawk, WI 54487 Ph: 715-539-2510 HAVEN (Household Abuse Victims Emergency Network) Services provided for sexual assault and domestic violence victims and their children.
24 hour crisis line: 715-536-1300 |