WCDD Home > What We Do > State Plan Intro

Housing

Vision/Goal:

People with developmental disabilities and their families will have the knowledge required to secure safe and affordable housing.

Background:

The majority of people with disabilities qualify for housing assistance based on low income. Because low-income housing agencies and the bulk of housing stock have not been accessible to people with disabilities, many people with disabilities have had difficulty securing safe and affordable housing in the community.

Between 1995 and 2000, the WCDD Supported Housing Project launched a statewide network of housing and human service providers. This network relies on specialized mortgage products, information and technical assistance to match people with developmental disabilities with the housing they want and need. Partnerships with WHEDA, Federal Home Loan Bank, and other financial institutions yielded adapted mortgage products and millions of dollars in down payment assistance for homebuyers with developmental disabilities.

WCDD published the Threshold series of videos and print publications on a wide range of housing, legal, and finance issues. WCDD developed a model of housing counseling specializing in the issues of people with developmental disabilities that is being replicated and has resulted in homeownership for hundreds of Wisconsin citizens with developmental disabilities.

Objective:

By 2003, 250 people with developmental disabilities will obtain secure, safe, and affordable housing. A statewide housing counseling organization will become a statewide resource providing specialized housing and financing information and consultation. Human service agencies, financial institutions, and housing agencies will have the knowledge required to assist people with developmental disabilities secure safe and affordable housing.

Funding:

$25,000/year

Collaborators:

Statewide housing counseling network, low-income housing agencies, county human services departments, human service provider agencies, financial institutions, DHFS, Bureau of Aging, WHEDA, DOA Division of Housing, area agencies on aging.

Strategies:

1. Capacity Building
   
   Develop the capacity within a statewide housing counseling organization to provide specialized information and referral regarding housing for people with developmental disabilities. Coordinate a technical assistance network among housing organizations across the state to expand the capacity of individual housing agencies and human service organizations to tap into the pool of expertise regarding the housing needs and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities (including elderly people with DD and their aging parents).
   
   
2. Coalition Building/Training
   
   Partner with a statewide housing counseling agency to develop four mini-trainings annually throughout the state on specific housing issues and make the trainings available to a statewide housing counseling coalition.
   
   
3. Research/Publications
   
   Develop and maintain an annually-updated data base of housing resources.