Affordable Housing
Lack of access to safe, affordable housing is a problem throughout the country, including Wisconsin. The cost of housing during the past decade has consistently outpaced both inflation and wages. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in order to afford a moderately priced ($635/month) two-bedroom apartment in Wisconsin, a person would need a full-time job paying $12.22 an hour – well over minimum wage. (Affordable housing is defined as costing no more than 30% of household income.) Local assistance programs can’t meet the growing need for housing. As a result, many people have to make hard decisions in choosing between basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, and health care.
The Wisconsin Council of Churches, along with faith communities and housing agencies statewide, supports efforts to make affordable housing more widely available in Wisconsin. Our basis for this work is the Wisconsin Council of Churches' "Statement on Economic Justice" (available online at the "Publications" portion of the website). The statement calls on us to live out Gospel values, and to focus on the compelling call to assure basic food and shelter for everyone.
Often we distinguish between "service" and "advocacy for justice" as ways that people of faith, as individuals and in congregations, carry out mission. We also think about sharing money, time and talents, and raising our voices to mission. All of these are ways to help address the housing issues
Common housing missions of congregations have focused on volunteering time of individuals and providing congregational funds for enterprises such as: Habitat for Humanity - helping build individual homes, Shelters for Homeless - whether non-profit or church-based, and "individual needs" - helping specific people meet basic needs short term or long term.
Some congregations and denominations also emphasize advocacy for state or federal action, e.g: better funding for anti-poverty programs or social services, more adequate homeless shelter support and programming, and other housing related initiatives. The WCC advocates for affordable housing legislation; visit our Legislative Alert Center and click on "issues" to check for current legislative priorities.
The Wisconsin Collaborative for Affordable Housing presents: A Home for Everyone Conference 2008
"Today's Housing, Tomorrow's Vision"
July 23-24, 2008
The Wisconsin Collaborative for
Affordable Housing consists of government agencies, community based
organizations, private concerns and housing advocates – all committed to
promoting the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout
Wisconsin. We are pleased to present this year’s A Home for Everyone conference
as a way of focusing on these issues for low-income families and individuals.
We hope you can join us!
For the conference brochure,
brochure, registration form, and scholarship application, click
here.
WCC is a member of the Wisconsin
Collaborative for Affordable Housing.
A Housing Trust Fund for Wisconsin
One way to increase the availability of safe,
affordable housing in Wisconsin would be to create a state housing trust fund.
A housing trust fund is a distinct fund established by legislation, ordinance,
or resolution to receive dedicated, ongoing public funding that can only be
spent on housing. Many communities in Wisconsin already have housing trust
funds. A state housing trust fund would increase the availability of affordable
housing while maintaining flexibility to meet particular local needs.
The WCC Stewardship of Public Life Committee
has endorsed a set of principles for a state housing trust fund:
Other organizations endorsing these principles
are: Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP); Fox Cities Housing
Coalition; Common Wealth Development, Inc.; and the Wisconsin Partnership for
Housing Development.
Further ideas for the possible design of such a
trust fund are contained in:
For more information on housing trust funds:
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel,
Appleton, WI
The WCC Affordable Housing Initiative
In June 2002 the Wisconsin Council of Churches received a $50,000 grant from the Otto Bremmer Foundation for an affordable housing project called "Opening Doors for Affordable Housing." This project, co-sponsored by Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and Madison-area Urban Ministry, included four gatherings in 2003 that brought together leaders of the faith community and representatives of organizations to work together in meeting the need for housing that is affordable for low-income people.
The Wisconsin Council of Churches worked with faith communities and housing agencies statewide to develop affordable housing strategy on the basis of a statewide picture of affordable housing needs. This initiative identified unmet needs, encouraged collaboration, made known the resources available from existing organizations, agencies and congregations and encouraged expanded participation by faith communities in Wisconsin.
For more information on the
affordable housing project click
here.
Affordable Housing Resources
- To obtain a video presentation in VHS or DVD format describing what faith communities have done to help assure affordable housing in Wisconsin see the WCC "Resources" section for ordering information.
Contact Information
For additional information about this initiative contact Peter Bakken at (608) 837-3108
or make contact by email by clicking here.