Chapter 16

16.302(1)(b) (b) In preparing the plan, the department may obtain input from housing authorities, community-based organizations, the private housing industry and others interested in housing assistance and development.

16.302(2) (2) The state housing strategy plan shall include all of the following:

16.302(2)(a) (a) A statement of housing policies and recommendations.

16.302(2)(b) (b) An evaluation and summary of housing conditions and trends in this state, including housing stock and housing cost analyses, general population and household composition demographic analyses and housing and demographic forecasts.

16.302(2)(c) (c) An evaluation of housing assistance needs, based in part on the evaluation under par. (b).

16.302(2)(d) (d) A discussion of major housing issues, including housing production, housing and neighborhood conservation, housing for persons with special needs, fair housing and accessibility and housing affordability.

16.302(2)(e) (e) Housing policies that set the general framework for this state’s housing efforts.

16.302(2)(f) (f) Strategies for utilizing federal funding and for coordinating federal and state housing efforts.

16.302(2)(g) (g) Specific recommendations for public and private action that contribute to the attainment of housing policies under the plan.

16.302(2)(h) (h) Strategies and specific recommendations for public and private action that will facilitate the inclusion of bicycle-oriented and pedestrian-oriented design in residential developments and mixed-use developments that include residential elements.

16.302(3) (3) The department shall annually update the state housing strategy plan.

16.302(4) (4) Before October 1 of each year, the department shall submit the state housing strategy plan to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

16.302 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1997 a. 27; 2003 a. 33 s. 152; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9802; 2009 a. 351; 2011 a. 32 s. 3451m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.302.

16.303 16.303 Housing cost grants and loans.

16.303(1) (1) The department shall do all of the following:

16.303(1)(a) (a) Subject to sub. (2), make grants or loans, directly or through agents designated under s. 16.304, from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (b) to persons or families of low or moderate income to defray housing costs of the person or family.

16.303(1)(b) (b) Determine the rate of interest, repayment terms or any other term of a loan made under this section.

16.303(1)(c) (c) Set minimum standards for housing that is occupied by a person or family of low or moderate income who receives a grant or loan under this section.

16.303(2) (2) In connection with grants and loans under sub. (1), the department shall do all of the following:

16.303(2)(a) (a) Base the amount of the grant or loan on the ratio between the recipient’s housing costs and income.

16.303(2)(d) (d) Ensure that the funds for the grants and loans are reasonably balanced among the varying housing needs of persons or families of low or moderate income.

16.303(2)(e) (e) Give priority for grants and loans to all of the following:

16.303(2)(e)1. 1. Homeless individuals and families.

16.303(2)(e)2. 2. Elderly persons.

16.303(2)(e)3. 3. Physically disabled persons.

16.303(2)(e)5. 5. Families in which at least one minor child but only one parent live together.

16.303(2)(e)6. 6. Families with 4 or more minor children living together.

16.303(2)(e)7. 7. Other persons or families that the department determines have particularly severe housing problems.

16.303(3) (3) 

16.303(3)(a) (a) The department may make grants or loans under sub. (1) (a) directly or through agents designated under s. 16.304.

16.303(3)(b) (b) The department may administer and disburse funds from a grant or loan under sub. (1) (a) on behalf of the recipient of the grant or loan.

16.303 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33 s. 153; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9803; 2011 a. 32 s. 3452m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.303; 2017 a. 59.

16.303 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 89, Wis. adm. code.

16.304 16.304 Designated agents.

16.304(1) (1) The department may enter into an agreement with an agent designated under sub. (2) to allow the designated agent to do any of the following:

16.304(1)(a) (a) Award grants and loans under s. 16.303 (1) and (2) subject to the approval of the department.

16.304(1)(b) (b) Disburse the funds for grants and loans to persons or families of low or moderate income on terms approved by the department.

16.304(1)(c) (c) On terms approved by the department, administer and disburse funds from a grant or loan under s. 16.303 on behalf of the recipient of the grant or loan.

16.304(2) (2) The department may designate any of the following as agents:

16.304(2)(a) (a) The governing body of a county, city, village or town.

16.304(2)(b) (b) The elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

16.304(2)(c) (c) A housing authority.

16.304(2)(d) (d) A nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

16.304(2)(e) (e) A cooperative organized under ch. 185 or 193, if the articles of incorporation, articles of organization, or bylaws of the cooperative limit the rate of dividend that may be paid on all classes of stock.

16.304(2)(f) (f) A religious society organized under ch. 187.

16.304(2)(g) (g) An organization operated for profit.

16.304 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39 ss. 120, 121; Stats. 1991 s. 16.334; 1997 a. 27, 79; 2003 a. 33 s. 154; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9804; 2005 a. 441; 2011 a. 32 s. 3453m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.304.

16.304 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 89, Wis. adm. code.

16.305 16.305 Grants to local housing organizations.

16.305(1) (1) The department may make grants to a community-based organization, organization operated for profit, or housing authority to improve the ability of the community-based organization, organization operated for profit, or housing authority to provide housing opportunities, including housing-related counseling services, for persons or families of low or moderate income. The grants may be used to partially defray any of the following:

16.305(1)(a) (a) Salaries, fringe benefits and other expenses associated with personnel of the housing authority, organization operated for profit or community-based organization.

16.305(1)(b) (b) Administrative or operating costs, not described in par. (a).

16.305(2) (2) The department may not make a grant under sub. (1) unless all of the following apply:

16.305(2)(a) (a) The housing authority, organization operated for profit or community-based organization submitted an application for a grant.

16.305(2)(b) (b) The housing authority, organization operated for profit or community-based organization equally matches the grant, by cash or by other assets in kind.

16.305(2)(c) (c) The department determines that the grant to the particular community-based organization, organization operated for profit, or housing authority is appropriate because of any of the following:

16.305(2)(c)1. 1. The quality of the management of the community-based organization, organization operated for profit or housing authority.

16.305(2)(c)2. 2. The amount of other resources for providing housing opportunities that are available to the community-based organization, organization operated for profit or housing authority.

16.305(2)(c)3. 3. The potential impact of the planned activities of the community-based organization, organization operated for profit or housing authority on housing opportunities for persons of low and moderate income in the area.

16.305(2)(c)4. 4. The financial need of the community-based organization, organization operated for profit or housing authority.

16.305(3) (3) A community-based organization, organization operated for profit or housing authority may receive grants under both sub. (1) (a) and (b).

16.305(4) (4) To ensure the development of housing opportunities, the department shall coordinate the use of grants provided under this section with projects undertaken by housing authorities, organizations operated for profit, and community-based organizations.

16.305 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39 s. 124; Stats. 1991 s. 16.336; 1997 a. 27; 2003 a. 33 s. 155; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9805; 2011 a. 32 s. 3454m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.305.

16.305 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 88, Wis. adm. code.

16.306 16.306 Housing grants.

16.306(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “eligible applicant” means any of the following:

16.306(1)(am) (am) A county or municipal governing body.

16.306(1)(bm) (bm) A county or municipal governmental agency.

16.306(1)(c) (c) A community action agency under s. 49.265.

16.306(1)(d) (d) A private, nonprofit organization.

16.306(1)(e) (e) An organization operated for profit.

16.306(2) (2) Grants.

16.306(2)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (fm), the department may award a grant to an eligible applicant for the purpose of providing housing and associated supportive services to homeless individuals and families to facilitate their movement to independent living if the conditions under par. (b) are satisfied. The department shall ensure that the funds for the grants are reasonably balanced among geographic areas of the state that correspond to the geographic areas served by each continuum of care organization designated by the federal department of housing and urban development, consistent with the quality of applications submitted.

16.306(2)(b) (b) A recipient of a grant under par. (a) shall agree to use the grant to support a housing program that does all of the following:

16.306(2)(b)1. 1. Utilizes only existing buildings.

16.306(2)(b)2. 2. Utilizes buildings at scattered sites.

16.306(2)(b)3. 3. Facilitates the utilization, by residents, of appropriate social services available in the community.

16.306(2)(b)4. 4. Provides, or facilitates the provision of, training in self-sufficiency to residents.

16.306(2)(b)5. 5. Requires that at least 25 percent of the income of residents be spent for rent.

16.306(3) (3) Reporting. Each recipient of a grant under this section shall annually provide all of the following information to the department:

16.306(3)(a) (a) The total number of persons served.

16.306(3)(b) (b) The length of stay in housing of each person served.

16.306(3)(c) (c) The housing and employment status of each person served, at the time that the person leaves the housing program.

16.306(3)(d) (d) Any other information that the department determines to be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the housing program operated by the recipient.

16.306 History History: 1991 a. 39, 269; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 s. 156; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9806; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 32 ss. 3455m to 3456m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.306; 2013 a. 166 s. 76; 2017 a. 59.

16.306 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 87, Wis. adm. code.

16.307 16.307 Grants to alleviate homelessness.

16.307(1) (1) Grants. From moneys available under s. 20.505 (7) (h), the department shall make grants to organizations, including organizations operated for profit, that provide shelter or services to homeless individuals or families.

16.307(2) (2) Supplemental funds. The department shall ensure that grants awarded under sub. (1) are not used to supplant other state funds available for homelessness prevention or services to homeless individuals or families.