Q: Do the pilot communities have access to financing sources that other communities will not?Ī: The pilot communities likely will help test some tactics that require financing. One critical element of the proposals will include the identification of someone to serve as a “convenor” or key point of contact for the effort. The application process itself allows for a broad definition of “community.” Cities, towns, villages, or others may take the lead in forming the application group as long as the USDA definition of rural is met. In convening the effort, WHEDA’s role involves encouraging participation by statewide and non-traditional partners that have a stake in the economic health and well-being of rural Wisconsin. What kind of staffing needs or resources does my town need to be a part of your pilot?Ī: The pilot process encourages communities to think broadly and reach out to collaborators that may have an interest in affordable housing as well as staff, professional expertise, and other support to contribute. Q: My community doesn’t have a lot of staff and our leadership is volunteer-based. Ultimately, the initiative will help inform a long-term rural housing strategy that may involve WHEDA and its partners. Generation of housing units and dollars invested in rural Wisconsin.Generation of housing units and dollars invested in each pilot community and.Reporting on applicability of solutions and development of a long-term rural housing strategy informed by the pilot.Extent of capacity building within the pilot communities.Depth and breadth of engagement with partners.The participation of businesses, community leaders, housing providers, statewide associations, nonprofit groups, and community members will be critical for long-term success.Ī: WHEDA intends to develop metrics to evaluate the outcomes of the rural affordable workforce housing pilot and supplemental financing. Moreover, potentially necessary changes related to community priorities, policies, and practices require ideas and input from many voices. WHEDA anticipates leveraging its sources of capital with funds from partners in the initiative.Ī: Just as no single factor is responsible for the shortage of rural affordable workforce housing, no single entity will be able to address today’s challenges and the challenges that may arise in the future. While resources will be needed to organize and execute the rural affordable workforce housing pilots in at least three communities, it is WHEDA’s intent to also direct funding toward the statewide supplemental financing tools. WHEDA is a public corporation that receives no state tax dollars for its work. Q: How is the project being funded and how will the funds be deployed?Ī: WHEDA’s $10 million commitment to the Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative is being funded through the amended 2019-20 Dividends for Wisconsin plan and other WHEDA resources. Participants at a series of statewide listening sessions organized by WHEDA have pointed to rising construction costs limited developer interest due to the smaller scale of rural projects aging housing stock few affordable rental options zoning infrastructure challenges and limited financing for new construction and renovation projects. The current shortage of rural affordable workforce housing can be traced to many factors. Supplemental financing tools designed to overcome technical funding challenges and better serve rural communities throughout WisconsinĪ: If Wisconsin is to thrive, people need access to safe, affordable housing employers need a skilled local workforce and communities need housing and businesses for a healthy tax base.A pilot effort that will use adaptive, collaborative techniques to identify rural needs, evaluate choices, and implement scalable solutions and.WHEDA has committed $10 million to the initiative, which includes: Q: What is WHEDA’s Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative?Ī: WHEDA’s Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative is a partnership-driven effort to address complex and evolving factors that are contributing to a shortage of affordable housing in rural Wisconsin.
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