- Wisconsin Department of Commerce Newsletter

Governor Doyle Announces $5.4 Million in Grants For Affordable Housing and to Assist Homeless Families

Governor Jim Doyle announced today $5.4 million in grants from the Department of Commerce for organizations in 14 counties to provide affordable housing and assist Wisconsin's homeless families. The grants are from the statewide Continuum of Care Supportive Housing Program, administered by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Housing.

"An important part of having a strong, prosperous state is ensuring there is access to affordable housing," Governor Doyle said. "By providing funding to agencies across the state to assist in providing permanent and transitional housing and services, we will help homeless families find a place to live, and become more self-sufficient."

Continuum of Care grants help agencies provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons. In addition, these grants fund important services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and child care.

Since 1997, the Department of Commerce has brought more than $40 million in federal funding into Wisconsin through this program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funding for the Continuum of Care Supportive Housing grants to help develop supportive housing and supportive services to assist homeless people in the transition to independent housing.

The Continuum of Care program has three overarching goals: assist program participants to obtain and remain in permanent housing; assist participants in increasing skills and/or income with a goal of being economically self-sufficient; and assist program participants in gaining the needed confidence to make the transition out of homelessness.

City of Appleton, Outagamie County, $511,591
The City of Appleton will use the funds to serve Fox Cities area homeless families and individuals that have a documented disability and need ongoing supportive services in order to live independently. The agency will create a permanent supportive housing environment that features six permanent housing units.

Richard's Place, Inc. (Whiterock), Waukesha, Waukesha County $112,555
Richard's Place, Inc. will use the funds to continue operating a four-bed transitional housing facility for persons with HIV/AIDS and offering end-of-life care when required. The agency will also provide case management to up to 40 additional individuals living independently in the community. Richard's Place, Inc. is the only Wisconsin facility that offers end-of-life care for HIV/AIDS individuals.

Couleecap, Inc., Westby, Vernon County, $359,805
Couleecap, Inc. will use the funds to support its Transitional Housing program. This program is designed to provide limited term affordable housing to homeless individuals and families who are leaving shelters or other temporary accommodations and need assistance in returning to independent living situations. This program serves homeless individuals and families in La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, and Crawford Counties.

Starting Points, Inc., Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, $499,864
Starting Points, Inc. will use the funds to provide 75 households with 24 months of transitional housing and supportive services. The supportive services include rental subsidy payments, education and employment counseling, and housing/tenant education. The agency will serve homeless teen parents, adult homeless households with children, and homeless single persons with disabilities.

Gov. Doyle hands a check to Patsy Mbguni, Planner at CAP Service, Inc.

ADVOCAP, Inc., Fond du Lac, $158,584
ADVOCAP, Inc. will use the funds to provide supportive services to homeless individuals and families in Winnebago and Green Lake Counties. This agency's goal is to help homeless individuals and families overcome barriers and achieve greater self-determination capacity to move into and maintain permanent housing.

CAP Services, Inc., Stevens Point, Portage County, $105,025
CAP Services, Inc. will use the funds to support its Transitional Housing Project. This project provides affordable housing and support services to victims of domestic abuse who have chosen to leave their abusers. CAP Services, Inc. helps families identify needs, set goals and priorities, and make an action plan with incremental steps toward goals. This project provides housing and services for residents of Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, and Marquette Counties.

ADVOCAP, Inc., Fond du Lac, $197,658
ADVOCAP, Inc. will use the funds to help homeless individuals and families overcome barriers and achieve greater self-determination capacity to move into and maintain permanent housing. The agency provides supportive services to homeless individuals and families in Fond du Lac County.

Forward Services Corporation, Madison, Dane County, $393,741
Forward Services Corporation will use the funds to provide 50 households with 12 months of transitional housing programs, including assisting the individuals in moving from transitional to permanent housing. The agency targets unemployed or underemployed women who are the head of household, have children, and are unable to meet the financial needs of the family. Forward Service Corporation serves Brown, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano, and Vilas Counties.

Kenosha Human Development Services, Inc., Kenosha, Kenosha County, $123,879
Kenosha Human Development Services, Inc. will use the funds to provide transitional housing services for single homeless adults at the Kenosha YMCA. The services include transportation, medical expenses, and rental assistance after participants successfully completing the program. The agency will make staff available during the evening at the YMCA to serve as a resource for other low-income and homeless individuals.

Gov. Doyle hands a check to Lisa Haen, Transitional Housing Program Coordinator at Kenosha Human Development Services, Inc.

West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency, Inc., Glenwood City, St. Croix County, $427,009
West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency, Inc. will use the funds to provide scattered-site transitional housing with supportive services to at least 35 homeless households. Participants and case managers will select a residence that will be leased by the agency and subleased to the participant. Participants will assume lease at the end of their participation in the program. This agency serves Barron, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix Counties.

Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, Inc., Independence, Trempealeau County, $264,926
Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. will use the funds to provide transitional housing, case management, employment related counseling and services to homeless families with children, single victims of domestic violence, and pregnant women. The project will serve 435 homeless individuals annually in Buffalo, Eau Claire, Jackson and Trempealeau Counties.

Lakeshore CAP, Inc., Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, $117, 663
Lakeshore CAP, Inc. will use the funds to coordinate services delivered to homeless individuals, and provide case management for homeless individuals and families needing assistance. This agency serves Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties.

Community Action, Inc., of Rock and Walworth Counties, Janesville, $557,180
Community Action, Inc. will use the funds to offer affordable permanent housing and case management to homeless individuals with disabilities. The agency has identified this population as being undeserved and unable to secure and/or maintain permanent housing. The agency will make available 10 one-bedroom and four efficiency units in Rock and Walworth Counties.

Richard's Place, Inc. (Main Street), Waukesha, Waukesha County, $434,524
Richard's Place, Inc. will use the funds to develop a permanent housing project for individuals with HIV/AIDS. The agency will help four to five individuals annually. The permanent housing project will serve the health-related needs of individuals with HIV/AIDS who require a permanent supportive housing environment.

Gov. Doyle hands a check to Jim Schwartz, Executive Director of Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. and Kiyoko Fiedler, Grant Writer at Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.

Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency, Inc., Superior, Douglas County, $333,369
Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency, Inc. will use the funds to help homeless individuals obtain permanent housing. Through a self-sufficiency plan, it will help the participants obtain safe, permanent housing, and employment or other means of income as well as address other barriers that affect their ability to find and maintain housing. The agency will lease 12 units in Bayfield and Ashland Counties.

Starting Points, Inc., Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, $348,022
Starting Points, Inc. will use the funds to provide six permanent housing units to homeless men with chronic mental illness, disabilities, and/or alcohol or drug abuse issues. The agency will provide long-term housing support, reduced housing costs, and supportive services to address the individual's needs through assessment and the development of individual treatment plans.

Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Madison, Dane County, $484,867
Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin will use the funds to assist 20 Jefferson County households move from homelessness to permanent housing. The agency will lease the units and sublease them to the participants. The transitional housing will be combined with intensive case management and related support services to assist each household in achieving their goals related to residential stability and self-sufficiency.