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Council committee accepts WHEDA housing counseling capacity-building grant to expand local counseling services
Summary
The committee accepted a two-year capacity-building grant offered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to expand local HUD-approved housing counseling, including training partner nonprofit counselors and improving reporting systems.
The Wausau Common Council finance committee on July 22 authorized acceptance of a housing counseling capacity-building grant offered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to bolster local HUD-approved housing counseling capacity.
Tammy Strats, a city housing staff member, told the committee WHEDA reached out because the city is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and is providing services across a broad area with only one certified counselor. “We have 1 certified housing counselor, and we're getting referrals from all over within a 100 mile radius because there's no other agency around us that provides that services,” Strats said. The two-year grant would fund training, certification costs and staff time for partner nonprofit counselors, and support reporting-system work.
Why it matters: Expanding local counseling capacity could help more residents access mortgage-ready counseling, translation services and culturally specific outreach. Strats said the Hmong American Center is interested in participating to provide translation, and the city is pursuing a Hispanic counselor candidate.
Committee action and procedure: Alder Henke moved acceptance of the grant; Alder Tierney seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps: City staff will proceed with grant acceptance and work with partner nonprofits to train additional counselors and update reporting systems; grant funding and partner details were in the packet presented to the committee.
