WHEDA Foundation Awards $500,000 in 2016 Housing Grants

MADISON – The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) has announced that the WHEDA Foundation, Inc. is awarding $500,000 in housing grants to 28 special‐needs housing providers throughout the state. These grants, awarded during WHEDA’s annual Housing Grant Program competition, help housing providers build new facilities or make improvements to their existing facilities.

“At WHEDA we’re extremely proud to have awarded financial support to special-needs housing providers through our foundation for more than 30 years,” said WHEDA Executive Director Wyman Winston. “In turn these outstanding WHEDA partners supply safe, affordable housing to Wisconsin residents in crisis who see their living conditions improve dramatically. I’m delighted that this year’s grant monies will create or improve 1,165 beds and housing units across our great state.”

The winning 2016 grant proposals ranged from replacing on-site security systems at a shelter for domestic abuse in Marinette to developing supportive housing for homeless veterans and those recovering from mental illness in Madison to rebuilding a deck/exit ramp at a group home for men with severe disabilities in Wausau.

Providers in Barron, Dane, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Racine, Rock, Rusk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, and Waupaca, counties received awards ranging from $3,046 to $25,000. 

WHEDA received 48 applications through the housing grant competition this year totaling $1,056,013 in funding requests, an indication of the high demand and need in Wisconsin. 

 “The grants provide a double benefit,” said Winston. “Critical improvements are made to affordable housing for the neediest of the needy and valued construction jobs will be created as grant recipients hire contractors to complete renovations and upgrades to their properties.”
 
The annual Housing Grant competition is funded entirely by WHEDA reserves using no state tax dollars. Grants are awarded through WHEDA’s Persons-in-Crisis Housing Program Fund to nonprofit agencies, local governments, and tribal authorities in Wisconsin whose mission includes meeting the housing needs of low‐income or disadvantaged populations including homeless persons, runaways, alcohol or drug dependent persons, persons in need of protective services, domestic abuse victims, persons with developmental disabilities, low‐income or frail elderly persons, persons with chronic mental illness, persons with physical disabilities, persons living with HIV disease, and individuals or families who do not have access to traditional or permanent housing. 

Since 1985, the WHEDA Foundation has issued 1,058 awards totaling $22,968,000 to housing providers across the state. Established by WHEDA in 1983, the foundation is responsible for receiving and administering housing grant funds on behalf of WHEDA. Grants are awarded in one of two categories: emergency/transitional housing or permanent housing.
 
Click here to see a complete list of the 2016 grant award recipients. 

WHEDA is an independent state authority that works with lenders to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin.  For more information on WHEDA programs, visit www.wheda.com or call 1-800-334-6873.