WHEDA and CSH welcome teams for the inaugural Wisconsin Supportive Housing Institute

MADISON – The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and CSH announced that seven teams will participate in the inaugural 2022 Wisconsin Supportive Housing Institute. The teams include diverse professionals from across the state. All groups will create a plan to develop affordable housing with access to supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

“Homelessness greatly impacts our rural and urban communities alike,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “Housing is critical to the health and wellness of individuals, and by connecting affordable housing with supportive services, we can have a lasting impact on the well-being of our communities statewide.”

“WHEDA is excited to work with CSH to connect developers and community service providers with training and resources to expand the supply of supportive housing,” said WHEDA Interim Executive Director Kim Plache. “It is important that WHEDA along with its partners align supportive housing developments to the needs in our communities. This Institute demonstrates our continued efforts to cultivate an ecosystem of greater housing equity throughout Wisconsin.”

“CSH congratulates the teams selected for this Institute. We look forward to collaborating with them and WHEDA to advance supportive housing in Wisconsin,” said Katrina Van Valkenburgh, Managing Director of the Central Region for CSH. “Supportive housing helps people live more stable and productive lives and supports individuals and families to thrive.”

The developer project leads for the seven teams include:

• Catapult Wellness, LLC, Milwaukee
• KG Development Group, Wauwatosa
• Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, West Allis
• Movin’ Out, Inc., Madison
• Newcap, Inc., Green Bay
• PORCH, Inc., Eau Claire
• T. Spell Development Group, Milwaukee

Over the next few months, the teams will work closely with WHEDA and CSH through a series of targeted training and group exercises. They will also receive technical assistance and insights on property management, financing and building design. The Institute will culminate with the finale this summer, where teams will present their plans to a group of public and private investors. After graduation from the Institute, each lead organization can apply for WHEDA’s Housing Tax Credit Program funding.

WHEDA has partnered with CSH – a national leader in supportive housing – to connect developers and community service providers with training and resources to expand the much-needed housing supply in Wisconsin. The initiative started with a webinar series to educate team members about the basics of supportive housing, integrated housing models, supportive services, and property management.

WHEDA and CSH also conducted a statewide survey to identify regions with the greatest need for supportive housing and the barriers in meeting those needs. Survey results informed the content for the Institute, which will provide the development teams with over 80 hours of targeted training and technical assistance. Each team has a developer, a supportive service provider and a property management partner.

Following the current Institute, WHEDA and CSH will launch a Tribal Supportive Housing Institute to help address the unique supportive housing needs of Wisconsin’s Tribal nations.

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ABOUT WHEDA
For 50 years, WHEDA has worked to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. Since 1972, WHEDA has financed more than 80,000 affordable rental units, helped more than 137,600 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.

ABOUT CSH
CSH is a nonprofit focused on advancing solutions that use housing as a platform for services to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people, maximize public resources and build healthy communities. CSH is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and has provided more than $1 billion in loans, grants, project assistance and advocacy creating access to 335,000 homes for those who need housing and important services to achieve stability and transform their lives. CSH and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority have partnered to offer training opportunities, research and prioritized investment focused on addressing persistent racial inequity and helping individuals and communities to thrive.

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.