The Community Housing Development Program provides affordable housing to keep homeownership opportunities in our communities.
We partner with private for-profit businesses and non-profit groups to plan, finance, and build good quality, affordable housing that is energy efficient and responds to local community needs. HomeWorks is also committed to providing long-term housing options that allow residents to build their personal assets through mutual or cooperative ownership.
West CAP’s non-profit development organization
Joint Ventures, Partnerships, and Financing
Examples of housing development partnership
West CAP’s Non-Profit Housing Development Organization
West CAP is a certified nonprofit Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). We utilize a variety of financing and tax credit options to lower project costs and increase affordability. Over the past sixteen years we have developed, either through acquisition and renovation, or through new construction, over 310 units of housing in communities in western Wisconsin and one project in Iowa.
On a typical project, CHDO coordinates the land purchase, assembles the development team and partners, arranges financing, serves as the general contractor, and stays with the project as asset and property manager (see the property management section of our website).
On some projects we are able to offer low-income housing tax credits to investment companies. We are also able to assist private developers in obtaining lower-cost financing so that some of the units can be available for rental at below market rates.
CHDO provides asset and property management services for all our properties.
Joint Ventures, Partnerships, and Financing Assistance
CHDO actively seeks partnerships with a companies and organizations that share our goals. Some examples of West CAP’s experience include:
Nationally-recognized, solar living at the 1300 Residences in River Falls, WI
The project took shape in the summer of 2020 thanks to a partnership with Gerrard Corporation and $7.8 million in WHEDA (Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority) financing. The property features three SmartFlower solar trackers and a 580-rooftop solar panel installation (featured on the cover), plus state-of-the-art air-source heat pumps and energy-efficient insulated glass windows, keeping both utility costs and CO2 emissions low for residents. The property has been nominated for two national awards and has received the following recognitions:
- 2022 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award – Green and Healty Housing Category
- 2021 WI Environmental Initiative’s highest-scoring Green Built Certified Affordable Housing Project
- 2020 Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity
- 24th Annual Governor’s Excellence in Community Action Award
As part of our innovative and greener approach to affordable housing, West CAP incorporates state of the art air-source heat pump systems like these (pictured below), which sit atop the 1300 Residences. The system is designed to transfer heat rather than converting it from a fuel, allowing it to deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.
Dakota Meadows bring solar living opportunities to downtown New Richmond, WI
Dakota Meadows opened in the spring of 2022 and is purposefully located within walking distance to downtown, coffee shops, grocery stores, shopping & other amenities to support residents, especially those who are low-income. This 38-unit family housing development offers spacious 1, 2, and 3 bedroom options, and gives residents solar-assisted energy savings, as the rooftop is lined with solar panels.
Hammond Homes bring affordable housing to low income seniors
The village of Hammond, had asked our help in developing housing for low-income seniors who want to remain in St. Croix County, which is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin. We provided consulting services and helped them raise funds. This project is local, grassroots, and designed not only to provide needed housing but also in a broader sense, to save a small but valuable town that is able to provide a very high quality of life. There are three total 4-plexes that make up Hammond Homes, each with it’s own separate entrance and garage for each unit.
Rice Lake Student Housing joins the Northwoods Technical College and University of Wisconsin Barron County (UWBC) campuses
For 25 years the two campuses, WITC and UWBC, had expressed interest in providing housing close to campus in order to increase student enrollment.The City of Rice Lake had a nearly zero vacancy rate and private developers had been reluctant to build new apartments for students. For these reasons, many students found that they could not attend college because housing at any price is not available. As a recent high school graduate, many do not have high-paying jobs, without affordable housing, these individuals cannot go to college to improve their skills.
After meeting with the staff of both educational institutions for many months, the City of Rice Lake approved rezoning and a certified survey map for the project. We worked on a final version of a development plan with the city and purchased an existing apartment building close to the campuses. Using some extra land in that purchase along with land from the city to create a high-quality development site. The city was very supportive of this effort because it also allowed for the development of a technology park and opened streets for new commercial development. We engaged in a community planning project, using student housing and the educational institutions as the anchor.
Today, we have a 24 suite, 96 bed facility.
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