Contact:
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that 14 housing agencies located throughout Wisconsin will share approximately $3 million in grants from the state’s Housing Organization and Direct Assistance Program (HODAP).
“My Grow Wisconsin initiative calls for promoting safe, affordable housing and expanding homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families,” said Governor Doyle. “I am pleased that we can assist in the continuing growth of affordable housing through the distribution of these funds.”
The HODAP program, new in 2004, combined the former Local Housing Organization Grant and Housing Cost Reduction Initiative programs to better serve individuals and families with housing needs. Awards are distributed evenly to three areas – Milwaukee Metro, Other Metro, and Balance of State.
For further information about Housing programs, contact Marty Evanson, Commerce, Bureau of Housing, at 608/267-2713 or mevanson@commerce.state.wi.us.
The awards are as follows:
Balance of State
· CAP Services, Inc., Marquette Portage, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties, $209,214
CAP Services, Inc. will provide downpayment assistance to low-income households to enable them to purchase a home by making the mortgage payment affordable. In collaboration with Portage County Health and Human Services and Waushara Human Services, CAP Services, Inc. will also provide rent assistance to enable low-income households to obtain and maintain adequate, affordable rental housing. All participants of the homebuyer program will receive homebuyer education.
· Lakeshore CAP, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, $212,744
Lakeshore CAP, in collaboration with Partners for Community Development and Habitat for Humanity-Manitowoc, will help enable low-income households achieve ownership. It will also provide prospective low-income homebuyers with home-purchase counseling. Emergency rental assistance and other supportive services also will be available to low-income households.
· Renewal Unlimited, Inc., Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk Counties, $197,750
Renewal Unlimited, Inc. is collaborating with Central Wisconsin Community Action Council to assist low-income households. It will work to eliminate potential foreclosures and to provide assistance in crisis and temporary emergency situations, as well as to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance. Renewal Unlimited, Inc. will also provide various forms of rental assistance to low-income households.
· West CAP, Barron, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix Counties, $280,032
West CAP, The Bridge to Hope, Grace Place, Turningpoint and Barron County Habitat for Humanity will provide homebuyer assistance, homebuyer education, and foreclosure prevention counseling to low- and moderate-income households. The collaboration of agencies will also provide rent assistance to low-income households. All participants of the homebuyer program will receive homebuyer education, and participants in the rental assistance program will receive housing counseling.
· Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Jefferson County, $100,260
CAC for South Central Wisconsin, in collaboration with hbc services, inc., will provide eviction prevention services and homebuyer assistance to low- and moderate-income households. All participants in the homebuyer program will receive homebuyer education prior to the purchase.
Milwaukee Metro
· ACTS Community Development Corp. (ACTS), City of Milwaukee, $210,000
Working in collaboration with the City of Milwaukee Housing Authority, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, and Tri-Corp; ACTS will assist low-income households to purchase a home, and provide funds so existing homeowners can maintain their homes and avoid foreclosure. Program participants will also receive credit and homebuyer counseling. The ACTS collaboration service area will be in the north, south, central and northwest portions of metropolitan Milwaukee.
· Milwaukee Behavioral Health Division, Milwaukee County, $171,441
The agency will provide rental assistance, in the form of first month’s rent and security deposit, to individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues. Participants will also receive recovery support coordination assistance.
· Milwaukee Homeownership Consortium, City of Milwaukee, $262,500
The consortium, comprised of Career Youth Development, Inc., Hmong American Friendship Inc, Housing Resources Inc., Neighborhood Housing Services of Milwaukee, Inc., and Select Milwaukee, will provide funds, in the form of downpayment and closing cost assistance, to low-income households to assist them in purchasing homes. Program fund recipients will also participate in homebuyer education as a condition of participation.
· United Community Center, Milwaukee County, $241,931
United Community Center, in collaboration with IndependenceFirst, will provide homebuyer assistance, in the form of downpayment and closing cost assistance, to low-income households. Program fund recipients will receive homebuyer education and post-purchase assistance as a part of their participation.
· Hebron House, Waukesha County, $151,794
Hebron House, in collaboration with hbc services, inc. and Cooperating Congregations of Waukesha County, will provide rental assistance and homebuyer assistance to low- and moderate–income households in Waukesha County. Grants will be given to prevent homelessness, and loans will provide downpayment assistance. Households receiving homebuyer assistance will also receive homebuyer education.
Other Metro
· Appleton Housing Authority, Outagamie, Winnebago, and Calumet Counties, $261,210
Appleton Housing Authority will collaborate with the Salvation Army, Emergency Shelter and the Housing Partnership of the Fox Cities to assist low-income households with homebuyer education, special financing and downpayments. It will also provide rental assistance to low-income renters.
· City of Madison, Dane County, $262,200
The City of Madison’s Community Development Block Grant and Community Development Authority units will collaborate with the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. Funds will also be available to LMI renters for rental assistance.
· Community Action, Inc. of Rock and Walworth Counties, Rock and Walworth Counties $332,500
Community Action will partner with ECHO, Inc., Caritas, Inc., the Walworth County Housing Authority and Edgerton Outreach to provide homebuyer assistance, in the form of downpayment and closing cost funds, to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. Funds also will be available to LMI owner-occupants to prevent foreclosure, and to LMI renters for utility connection and eviction prevention.
· Eau Claire County Housing Authority, Eau Claire County, $144,090
Eau Claire County Housing Authority will provide funds for downpayment and closing costs to low- and moderate-income households to assist in the purchase of a home. It will also provide rental assistance to low- and moderate-income tenants. As a part of their participation in the homebuyer program, households will receive homebuyer education. Renters will also receive counseling related to their housing needs.
