WHEDA awarded Emergency Housing Vouchers by HUD

MADISON – The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority has been awarded 313 Emergency Housing Vouchers by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Emergency Housing Vouchers target individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, survivors of domestic or sexual violence and victims of human trafficking. WHEDA will partner with a continuum of care agency to accept referrals for tenants who qualify for these vouchers.

To assist in housing search efforts and the deployment of vouchers, WHEDA is asking property owners interested in accepting tenants with vouchers to complete a brief online form.

Gov. Tony Evers said the vouchers will help families access stable housing and he urged landlords and property owners to participate in accepting tenants using vouchers.

“Housing is a basic human need and HUD’s Emergency Housing Vouchers will help families and vulnerable individuals find stability and opportunity after the challenges of COVID and other traumas,” Gov. Evers said. “We are encouraging landlords to work with WHEDA to learn how these and other vouchers can strengthen communities.”

WHEDA CEO Joaquín Altoro said the Emergency Housing Vouchers will help tenants and landlords make up lost ground.

“This critical investment in new vouchers through the American Rescue Plan Act is expected to help hundreds of additional Wisconsin families access stable housing,” Altoro said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened housing insecurity and created a disproportionate impact among underrepresented communities. The availability of these vouchers will help community members get back on their feet while also supporting landlords with stable rents to maintain their properties.”

The Emergency Housing Vouchers are being funded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. On Thursday, WHEDA’s board approved acceptance of the initial allocation of 313 Emergency Housing Vouchers with the ability to accept more if requested by HUD and capacity allows.

In addition to the new Emergency Housing Vouchers, WHEDA currently administers some 2,735 housing vouchers under other existing HUD programs. The WHEDA total represents less than 1% of HUD vouchers available through all sources statewide.

To deploy vouchers under the existing programs, WHEDA contracts with local agents, who certify applicants, inspect housing units, maintain waiting lists and issue the vouchers. A list of WHEDA agents that work to distribute the existing vouchers locally can be found here.

To learn more about Emergency Housing Vouchers and other voucher programs that WHEDA administers, please visit the voucher administration page on WHEDA.com. For more on WHEDA’s efforts to expand affordable housing and economic opportunity, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Find WHEDA news releases here.

ABOUT WHEDA
For more than 48 years, WHEDA has worked to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. Since 1972, WHEDA has financed more than 78,000 affordable rental units, helped more than 135,000 families purchase a home, and provided more than 29,000 small business and agricultural loan guarantees. WHEDA is a self-supporting public corporation that receives no tax dollars for its operations. For more information on WHEDA programs, visit wheda.com or call 800-334-6873.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.