Resources

Guides

Clear answers about credit and renting — how to build your credit, what the law says, and what it means for you.

Work with families who rent?

There's a four-guide packet ready to print and hand out — free, no sign-up, and there's an unbranded version if you'd rather.

See the printable packet

Credit

How to build credit without a Social Security numberYou can build credit without an SSN. With an ITIN you can open a secured card or a credit-builder loan, and your rent can be reported using your name, date of birth, and address. How to start.Read →
How to make your rent count toward your creditYour rent is the biggest payment you make and usually doesn't count toward your credit. How to report it to the bureaus — without your landlord participating, and without an SSN.Read →
How to improve your credit: the steps that actually workImproving your credit comes down to a few things: pay on time, use little of your limit, keep old cards open, dispute errors, and add positive history. How to do it, no shortcuts or scams.Read →
What a good credit score is, and how it's calculatedScores run from 300 to 850. What counts as good, the five things that calculate it, why you have several scores, and what does NOT affect it (not your income or immigration status).Read →
How to open a secured credit card with an ITINA secured card is one of the easiest ways to start credit without an SSN. What it is, how to open one with an ITIN, what to look for, and how to use it to raise your score.Read →

Renting

What can a landlord charge you to apply for a rental in Wisconsin?A landlord can charge what your credit report actually cost them, up to $25 — and nothing if you hand them one less than 30 days old. What else they can charge, and what they have to give back.Read →

Investing