WHEDA Foundation awards three grants to housing providers in Green Bay

MADISON – The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) has announced that the WHEDA Foundation, Inc. is awarding grants totaling $69,766 to three Green Bay housing providers. WHEDA Chief Operating Officer Brian Schimming made the announcement Tuesday at Mason Manor, an affordable housing community in Green Bay.

Grants awarded statewide during the WHEDA Foundation’s annual Housing Grant Program competition help housing providers build new facilities or make improvements to their existing facilities. Awardees include House of Hope Green Bay ($25,000), Green Bay Housing Authority ($25,000), and Newcap, Inc ($19,766).

“The grant monies will be put to very good use,” said Schimming who presented a large check at the announcement to the Green Bay Housing Authority whose grant will help remodel a community room kitchen at Mason Manor. House of Hope’s grant will correct a faulty HVAC system and fix a ground water leakage issue. And Newcap’s grant will finance the rehabilitation of electrical, carpentry, flooring and siding work as well as some inside painting.

“Vital improvements are made to affordable housing for the neediest of the needy, and valued construction jobs are created as grant recipients hire contractors to complete renovations and upgrades to their properties,” said Schimming. “So there’s a significant benefit from these grants.”

WHEDA received a total of 62 applications statewide through the housing grant competition this year totaling $1,305,983 in funding requests, demonstrating the high demand and need in Wisconsin. In all, 29 awards were issued statewide totaling $513,824 that will create or improve 1,005 beds/units.

The annual Housing Grant Program competition is funded entirely by WHEDA reserves using no state tax dollars. Grants are awarded through WHEDA’s Housing Grant 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, youth in out-of-home placement, 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 1,116 awards totaling over $23,981,000 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 2018 grant award recipients. 

WHEDA, as an independent state authority, has provided low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. For more information on WHEDA programs, visit wheda.com or call 800-334-6873.