Award for Highland Commons in West Allis recognizes excellence in healthy housing innovation
Madison – July 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) is one of only four applicants in the country to receive a Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes. This year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in partnership with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) held its first annual Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes to recognize excellence in healthy housing innovation and achievement.
WHEDA won in the Public Housing/Multifamily Housing category for Highland Commons in West Allis, WI. The 50-unit, supportive living housing project has been serving individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness since 2012. The project replaced a foreclosed, severely blighted set of buildings that were determined to be unsalvageable. In 2010, WHEDA allocated $976,371 in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and in 2011 WHEDA approved a $6,500,000 construction loan and a $785,000 permanent loan to help finance Highland Commons, developed by Cardinal Capital Management of Wisconsin.
“I am honored, gratified, and very excited that WHEDA has won this prestigious national award,” said WHEDA Executive Director Wyman Winston. “It inspires all of us at WHEDA to continue our commitment to special needs housing, including encouraging our developer partners to add supportive housing units whenever they, like Highland Commons, are awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for their projects.
“Cardinal Capital is very proud to join WHEDA in accepting this award for Highland Commons,” said Carol Keen, Asset Manager for Astar/Cardinal Capital Management. “We strive to make all of our developments healthy and offer amenities to enhance the lives of our residents. We celebrate today along with our other partners involved in the development that include: HUD, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Milwaukee County, the City of West Allis, the Milwaukee Center for Independence and Boston Capital. “
Highland Commons is designed to reduce stress by addressing the need for privacy, a sense of security and serene surroundings. Well lit, bright apartments and common spaces; an attractive and calming color palette; a fitness room; computer lab and free internet access; as well as landscaped grounds with an outdoor patio and vegetable garden are all geared to help residents live the healthiest life possible.
Highland Commons incorporates a supportive living model of services that allows individuals with a mental illness to live independently in permanent housing that provides them with the services best suited to their individual needs.
Nearly two years after the opening of Highland Commons, reports show marked improvements in the health and well-being of residents. No less than 50 adults living with and recovering from a Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) are living in secure, safe, affordable housing. At least 300 planned activities were held during a 12-month period that focused on the services and support necessary to provide a recovery oriented community.
Resident feedback reinforces the data that the lifestyle at Highland Commons has improved their health and general well-being. More than half of the current residents have lived at Highland Commons since it opened while one resident who is now moving told the support services coordinator, “I am strong now and feel ready to move on.”
WHEDA’s award was presented at the National Environmental Health Association’s Annual Education Conference on July 13, 2015, in Orlando, FL.
“I am truly happy that your program is going to be recognized in this fashion and hope that all continues to go well with your efforts for mentally ill people in Wisconsin,” said Martin Nee, Division Director of Regional Management and Technical Services for NEHA’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.
WHEDA is a public body corporate and politic created in 1972 by the Wisconsin Legislature that provides low?cost financing for housing, small business and agricultural development.
Since 1972, WHEDA has financed more than 77,000 affordable rental units, helped more than 118,000 families purchase their first homes and made more than 29,000 small business and agricultural loan guarantees. For more information, visit wheda.com or call 1-800-334-6873.
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Contact: Kevin Fischer, WHEDA, 414-227-2295 or 608-354-3580, kevin.fischer (at) wheda (dot) com
