by Ken Pennings, WCC Affordable Housing Project
Administrator
The WCC Affordable Housing
Initiative
Faith communities just getting started in providing affordable, safe, sanitary, accessible housing for low-income people in Wisconsin may do the following:
1) Send a congregational representative to one (or more) of a number of excellent annual affordable housing conferences in Wisconsin, i.e. conferences sponsored by Wisconsin Collaborative for Affordable Housing (608) 245-3292 or Wisconsin Fair Housing Network (414) 297-3214 ext. 8301 or (800) 279-1972;
2) Go out to lunch with a representative of the following: a non-profit faith-based housing provider(1), a non-profit housing developer(2), a for-profit housing developer, an apartment owners association, a realtors' association, a city or county department of planning and development, a state housing program(3), a lending institution or program(4). Ask lots of question;
3) Attend meetings of an affordable housing group(5) (i.e. coalition, commission, roundtable, etc.) in your area. If there isn't one, start one. The local Housing Authority, United Way, Community Action Agency or Salvation Army may be a good place to start. The group may do a community needs-assessment, create a directory of service providers, even develop a new housing project.
4) Walk through the process of acquiring a home with a low-income individual/family. Document each step of the process. Share what you've learned with others;
5) Fight NIMBY-ism ("Not In My Back Yard") which is motivated by racism and classism;
6) Contact the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, Inc.'s statewide or toll free number (877) 647-3247 to report incidents of housing discrimination;
7) Show up at zoning meetings and speak in favor of new construction that will make housing available to low-income people;
8) Talk to developers about under-used properties in your community that may be developed for affordable housing;
9) Take advantage of the resources available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) www.hud.gov/local/mil, specifically through HUD's Wisconsin Team Member for Faith-Based Initiatives (414) 297-3214 ext. 8014;
10) Invite a housing expert to teach a class or lead a workshop at your church on home-ownership. Make home-ownership information readily available on church bulletin boards, in newsletters, on literature tables, etc. Contact USDA-Rural Development (866) 474-3600 or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/wi;
11) Join Interfaith-Hospitality Network (608) 294-7998, which links local churches together in providing emergency housing for the homeless;
12) Donate land for new construction of affordable housing;
13) Advocate for just legislation (Consult 2003 Advocates' Guide to Housing & Community Development Policy, www.nlihc.org/advocates/2003ag.pdf (National Low-Income Housing Coalition). Write letters to legislators, editors, etc.
14) Volunteer to monitor the upkeep of an affordable housing project (building and grounds). Provide services to tenants (elderly, differently-abled, etc.), i.e. friendly visits, transportation to shopping, doctors, etc. Improve a site through gardening, landscaping, installing playground equipment, etc.(6).
15) Participate in the construction or renovation of homes;(7)
16) Work toward an integrated delivery of services along with the development of affordable housing;
17) Identify individuals in the congregation or community who may be interested in purchasing low income housing tax credits;
18) Make referrals; check general resource information in the two publications of the Bureau of Housing in the WI Department of Commerce (608) 266-1018.
Footnotes
1) Housing Ministries of American Baptists in Wisconsin (608) 255-9920, Wisconsin Housing Ministry Partnership (715) 357-3334, Habitat for Humanity (800) 221-8763, etc.
2) Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development (608) 258-5560 ext. 23, Impact Seven (715) 357-3334, MOvin' Out (608) 251-4446 ext. 3, Project Home (608) 246-3737, etc.
3) Wisconsin Community Action Program (WISCAP) (608) 244-0466, etc.
4) Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) info@wheda.com, (800) 334-6873.
5) Roundtable of Dane County (608) 282-3524, ...of Green County (608) 328-9452, ...of Dodge County (920) 386-3789, Greater Isthmus Group (Dane County) (608) 257-1039, LaCrosse County Housing Commission (608) 796-1400, Fox Cities Housing Coalition (920) 731-6644, etc.
6) Wisconsin Housing Ministry Partnership (715) 357-3334, etc.
7) Habitat for Humanity
(800) 221-8763, Operation Fresh Start (800) 860-2684, (608) 244-4721, The
Dominican Center - Milwaukee (414) 444-9930, etc.
Contact Information
For additional information about this initiative call the Project Administrator Ken Pennings at: (608) 837-3108
Email Ken Pennings, the Project Administrator, by clicking here.