Page 13 - Mission Possible: WHEDA Annual Report 2015

Since 1986, WHEDA has been the sole administrator of federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) in Wisconsin. This valuable resource has been instrumental in encouraging private investment in the development and rehabilitation of rental housing for low- to moderate-income families, seniors and persons with
high-quality environment, they get incredibly emotional,” said Mr. Goldberg. “We then see the progress they’ve made where it’s no longer a battle to survive day in and day out; it’s amazing. They’re getting employed and having income, they come out of their shell and become engaged in the community.”
special needs.
Through WHEDA’s LIHTCs, Heartland makes its mission possible – developing permanent supportive housing that meets the needs of the communities they serve.
WHEDA allocated $540,000 in LIHTC to Heartland Housing in Chicago to develop Madison Supportive Housing (MSH). Construction for the 60-unit apartment complex began in the summer of 2015 with resident occupancy slated for second quarter 2016. MSH is being constructed for individuals that are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Heartland Housing sees a growing trend and need for more supportive housing with developers setting aside a speciic number of units in new rental complexes to meet the housing needs of at-risk populations.
Heartland Housing’s philosophy is to partner with communities and social service providers to develop housing with supportive services to help the most vulnerable populations have a safe, afordable place to call home. For Heartland, MSH is their irst venture in the city of Madison to provide supportive housing focused on the special needs of
For many years, WHEDA’s LIHTC program has included a supportive housing set-aside as part of its tax credit application process. And, in 2013, WHEDA included a speciic scoring category within its tax credit application to encourage its developer partners to add supportive housing units
the homeless.
“On set-aside units, WHEDA gets that,” said Mr. Goldberg. “It speaks volumes for WHEDA’s understanding of the need in Wisconsin. It’s a pleasure to work with them.”
“There are 1,900 single adults served in Madison shelters, 12 percent are veterans,” said Michael Goldberg, Executive Director of Heartland Housing and Vice President of Heartland Alliance. “The solution is supportive housing. Madison is no diferent than anyplace else. People are struggling.”
MSH will be Heartland’s greenest development, being designed to meet LEED standards. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certiication program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. MSH will also have a rooftop garden and a community kitchen for residents to learn about growing food as well as cooking and eating healthy.
Heartland Health Outreach, the largest provider of health care for the homeless in Chicago, will be the service provider for MSH. The organization’s community-focused approach and industry expertise will help residents improve their lives and develop the skills necessary to sustain a stable home. Once at MSH, residents will receive a medical assessment and access resources to develop skills, manage assets, gain employment and stay housed.
For Madison-area residents living on the street, it’s hard for them to imagine a safe, afordable place to live. Housing is the foundation for personal well-being and security. By combining afordable housing with community-focused supportive services, WHEDA and Heartland Housing are helping to change lives and build strong neighborhoods one resident at time.
“We’re housing people whose last residence was a shelter with no history of living in a home. When we show them the unit in a
to rental projects developed with LIHTC.
WHEDA MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
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