Chapter 16

16.308(1)(b)6. 6. A housing and community development authority.

16.308(1)(b)7. 7. An organization operated for profit.

16.308(1)(c) (c) “Proposed operating budget” means the budget proposed for the calendar or fiscal year following the year in which an application is submitted, including all anticipated revenue other than the amount sought in the grant application and all planned expenditures.

16.308(1)(d) (d) “Shelter facility” means a temporary place of lodging for homeless individuals or families.

16.308(2) (2) Purpose; allocation.

16.308(2)(a) (a) From the appropriations under s. 20.505 (7) (fm) and (h), the department shall award grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of supplementing the operating budgets of agencies and shelter facilities that have or anticipate a need for additional funding because of the renovation or expansion of an existing shelter facility, the development of an existing building into a shelter facility, the expansion of shelter services for homeless persons, or an inability to obtain adequate funding to continue the provision of an existing level of services.

16.308(2)(b) (b) The department shall allocate funds from the appropriations under s. 20.505 (7) (fm) and (h) for temporary shelter for homeless individuals and families as follows:

16.308(2)(b)1. 1. At least $400,000 in each year to eligible applicants located in Milwaukee County.

16.308(2)(b)2. 2. At least $66,500 in each year to eligible applicants located in Dane County.

16.308(2)(b)3. 3. At least $100,000 in each year to eligible applicants not located in Milwaukee County or Dane County.

16.308(2)(b)4. 4. In addition to the amounts under subds. 1. to 3., no more than $183,500 in each year to eligible applicants without restriction as to the location of the applicants.

16.308(3) (3) Application.

16.308(3)(a) (a) An eligible applicant which is not located in Dane County or Milwaukee County may submit an application for one of the following:

16.308(3)(a)1. 1. A grant of not more than 50 percent of the current or proposed operating budget of a shelter facility operated by the applicant.

16.308(3)(a)2. 2. A grant of not more than 50 percent of the portion of the applicant’s current or proposed operating budget allocated for providing homeless individuals with vouchers that may be exchanged for temporary shelter.

16.308(3)(am) (am) An eligible applicant located in Dane County or Milwaukee County may submit an application for one of the following:

16.308(3)(am)3. 3. A grant of not more than 50 percent of the total current or proposed operating budgets of one or more shelter facilities from which the applicant purchases shelter for homeless persons and to which the applicant will distribute the money it receives under conditions described in the application.

16.308(3)(am)4. 4. A grant of not more than 50 percent of the total current or proposed operating budgets of 2 or more shelter facilities which the applicant represents and to which the applicant will distribute the money received under conditions described in the application.

16.308(3)(b) (b) Applications shall be submitted in the form required by the department and shall be accompanied by the current or proposed operating budget or both, as required by the department, of each shelter facility or agency that will, directly or indirectly, receive any of the grant money, and an explanation of why the shelter facility or agency has or anticipates a need for additional funding.

16.308(3m) (3m) Grant eligibility. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall consider all of the following:

16.308(3m)(a) (a) Whether the community in which an eligible applicant provides services has a coordinated system of services for homeless individuals and families.

16.308(3m)(b) (b) The number of shelter days the eligible applicant intends to provide during the year for which the grant application is submitted.

16.308(3m)(c) (c) The eligible applicant’s history of successfully transitioning homeless individuals or families to permanent housing.

16.308(3m)(d) (d) Whether the eligible applicant provides intensive case management services.

16.308(3m)(e) (e) Whether the eligible applicant provides trauma-informed care.

16.308(3m)(f) (f) Whether the eligible applicant provides opportunities for shelter residents to obtain employment, increase their income, or increase their hours worked.

16.308(3m)(g) (g) The utilization rate of each unit at each shelter facility operated by the eligible applicant.

16.308(3m)(h) (h) The average length of stay of shelter residents at each shelter facility operated by the eligible applicant.

16.308(3m)(i) (i) The percentage of shelter residents served by the eligible applicant that is chronically homeless.

16.308(3s) (3s) Implementation of eligibility criteria.

16.308(3s)(a) (a)

16.308(3s)(a)1. 1. In each fiscal year of the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, all amounts expended under this section that exceed the amount shown in the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the 2018-19 fiscal year may be expended only for grants awarded after the department considers the eligibility criteria specified in sub. (3m) (b) to (i).

16.308(3s)(a)2. 2. The department shall phase in over fiscal years 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 the award of grants based on consideration of the eligibility criteria specified in sub. (3m) (b) to (i). Beginning in fiscal year 2023-24, 100 percent of the grants awarded under this section shall be awarded after the department considers all of the eligibility criteria specified in sub. (3m) (a) to (i).

16.308(3s)(b) (b) Before the department awards a grant based on consideration of the eligibility criteria specified in sub. (3m) (b) to (i), the department shall consider whether an eligible applicant’s rules, policies, or procedures for providing services to homeless individuals and families have an impact on how one or more of those criteria apply with respect to the eligible applicant and may adjust any grant award accordingly.

16.308(4) (4) Rule making required. The department shall promulgate by rule both of the following:

16.308(4)(a) (a) Criteria for awarding grants.

16.308(4)(b) (b) Criteria for determining whether an agency that operates a shelter facility or program is eligible for a grant.

16.308(5) (5) Prohibited uses. The department may not provide a grant for any of the following purposes:

16.308(5)(a) (a) The construction of a new shelter facility.

16.308(5)(b) (b) The operation of a shelter care facility licensed under ch. 48.

16.308(5)(d) (d) The operation of an agency that provides only information, referral or relocation services.

16.308 History History: 1985 a. 29, 276; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39 s. 1378; Stats. 1991 s. 16.352; 1993 a. 16, 374; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 79; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 s. 159; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9808; 2011 a. 32 s. 3458m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.308; 2019 a. 76; 2021 a. 239 s. 74.

16.308 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 86, Wis. adm. code.

16.3085 16.3085 Homeless case management services grants.

16.3085(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “shelter facility” has the meaning given in s. 16.308 (1) (d).

16.3085(2) (2) Grants.

16.3085(2)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (kg), the department may award up to 10 grants, of up to $50,000 each, annually to any shelter facility.

16.3085(2)(b) (b) A shelter facility shall use all grant moneys awarded to it under par. (a) for the purpose of providing intensive case management services to homeless families, including any of the following:

16.3085(2)(b)1. 1. Services related to financial management.

16.3085(2)(b)2. 2. Employment-related services, including connecting parents who are job training graduates or who have a recent work history with their local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832 and assisting them with using the job center website maintained by the department of workforce development.

16.3085(2)(b)3. 3. Services intended to ensure continuation of school enrollment for children.

16.3085(2)(b)4. 4. Services related to the enrollment of unemployed or underemployed parents in a food stamp employment and training program under s. 49.79 (9) or in the Wisconsin Works program under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

16.3085 History History: 2017 a. 59; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

16.309 16.309 Community development block grant programs.

16.309(1) (1) The department may administer programs, including the housing improvement grant program, the initial rehabilitation grant program, the community development grant program, and the revolving loan fund program, that are funded by a community development block grant, 42 USC 5301 to 5320.

16.309(2) (2) The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

16.309(3) (3) Notwithstanding sub. (2), the department shall promulgate rules that specify that an applicant for funds under a program under this section shall be eligible to receive funds under the program in the year following the year for which the applicant submits an application, without having to submit another application for that following year, if all of the following apply:

16.309(3)(a) (a) The applicant is an eligible applicant under the terms of the program.

16.309(3)(b) (b) The applicant did not receive funds under the program in the year for which the application was submitted.

16.309 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 1997 a. 27; 2003 a. 33 s. 160; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9809; 2011 a. 32 s. 3459m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.309; 2013 a. 20.

16.309 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. Adm 90 and 93, Wis. adm. code.

16.310 16.310 Use of surplus state-owned real property.

16.310(1) (1) Definitions. In this section “state agency” means an office, commission, department, or independent agency in the executive branch of state government.

16.310(2) (2) Transfer of real property to the department.

16.310(2)(a) (a) The department shall petition the head of any state agency having jurisdiction over real property that the department determines to be suitable for surplus.

16.310(2)(b) (b) The head of the state agency having jurisdiction over the real property shall notify the department in writing whether or not the state agency considers the real property to be surplus.

16.310(2)(c) (c) If the state agency considers the real property to be surplus, if the department determines that the real property is suitable by, the state agency shall transfer the real property, without payment, to the department for purposes of transfer to an applicant under sub. (3).

16.310(3) (3) Transfer of real property. The department may transfer real property obtained under sub. (2) to an applicant under a written agreement that includes a provision that the applicant agrees to pay the department an amount to utilize the real property in conformance with the agreement.

16.310(4) (4) Recording. The department shall record the agreement under sub. (3) in the office of the register of deeds for the county in which the real property subject to the agreement is located.

16.310(5) (5) Nonapplication. This section does not apply to property that is authorized to be sold or leased as provided in s. 16.848 while an offer of sale, sale, or lease agreement is pending or while the property is leased.

16.310 History History: 1991 a. 39; 2001 a. 103; 2003 a. 33 s. 161; Stats. 2003 s. 560.9810; 2005 a. 25; 2011 a. 32 s. 3460m; Stats. 2011 s. 16.310; 2013 a. 20.

16.313 16.313 Employment grants.

16.313(1) (1) In this section, “municipality” means a county, city, village, or town.

16.313(2) (2) 

16.313(2)(a) (a) Any municipality may apply for a grant under this section.

16.313(2)(b) (b) The department may award a grant of up to $75,000 to a municipality that submits an application under par. (a). The grant and all moneys contributed by the municipality under sub. (3) shall be used for the purpose of connecting homeless individuals with permanent employment.

16.313(3) (3) A municipality receiving a grant under sub. (2) shall itself contribute at least $10,000 for the purpose specified in sub. (2) (b).

16.313(4) (4) In considering grant applications submitted under sub. (2) (a), the department shall give preference to a municipality that obtains an agreement from a nonprofit organization to provide additional employment and support services to homeless individuals participating in the grant program.

16.313(5) (5) In considering grant applications submitted under sub. (2) (a), the department shall give preference to a municipality that places a priority on using the grant moneys and the moneys contributed by the municipality under sub. (3) for the purpose of paying the wages of homeless individuals participating in the grant program under this section.

16.313 History History: 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 58.

16.314 16.314 Employability plans for public housing residents.

16.314(1) (1) In this section:

16.314(1)(a) (a) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4).

16.314(1)(b) (b) “Controlled substance abuse screening” means a questionnaire, a criminal background check, or any other controlled substance abuse screening mechanism identified by the department.

16.314(2) (2) To the extent allowed under federal law, the department shall require that each housing authority do all of the following:

16.314(2)(a) (a) Conduct screening to determine whether each adult resident in public housing administered by the housing authority is able-bodied and either unemployed or underemployed.

16.314(2)(b) (b) For each resident the housing authority determines under par. (a) is able-bodied and either unemployed or underemployed, create an employability plan for the resident and require the resident to participate in the plan.

16.314(2)(c) (c)

16.314(2)(c)1. 1. For each resident the housing authority determines under par. (a) is able-bodied and either unemployed or underemployed, require the resident to complete a controlled substance abuse screening. If, on the basis of the controlled substance abuse screening results, the housing authority determines that there is a reasonable suspicion that the resident is abusing a controlled substance, the housing authority shall require the resident to undergo a test for the use of a controlled substance.