WHEDA Doles Out $500,000 for Special-needs Housing

At a time the when the economy is forcing people out of their homes and charitable donations are down, some special-needs housing organizations have received grants to improve their facilities. Officials say the money comes at a critical time.

Special-needs housing helps an array of people, including victims of domestic abuse, low-income families or people with developmental disabilities. Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority recently awarded $500,000 to twenty-five organizations in Wisconsin.

Community Advocates in Milwaukee received $25,000 to rehab the heating and cooling systems in its emergency family shelter. CEO Joe Volk says it will help families stay comfortable as staff help them move back into their own home. Community Advocates are working with more people. Volk says the number of families at the shelter is up 20% since 2010. He says, “These are families that literally have no place else to stay. If not for the shelter, they might be out on the street, in a park, in an abandoned building. With their young kids, that becomes a very serious thing.”

Marc Perry is the Director of Planning for Community Action, Inc. of Rock and Walworth Counties. He says they have a growing waiting list for its emergency shelter, with more young families seeking help. Community Action received $25,000 to make its facilities handicapped accessible. “It’s a matter of making sure that we can serve all the families and all the individuals appropriately and respectfully in our service territory and in our community.”

Community Action is the only temporary emergency shelter in Walworth County.