About Us

The Counties

Jefferson, Washington and Waukesha Counties face continuing labor shortages, which affect the continued expansion of existing companies and the attraction of new companies. As a result, incomes remain stagnant. At the same time, home prices are on the rise in the area, making it difficult for first-time home buyers to purchase homes. Affordable housing is critical to the economic future of this area.

The Consortium

To address the problem, in 1998 Jefferson, Washington and Waukesha Counties joined together to form the HOME Consortium and become eligible to receive federal HOME program funds to support the creation and maintenance of affordable housing. In 1999, Ozaukee County agreed to participate in the Consortium. The main purposes of the HOME Consortium are to advance home ownership opportunities with a 0% deferred down payment assistance program, and to maintain the quality of the existing housing stock through no interest deferred housing rehabilitation loans. All programs are available to households in the participating counties that earn 80% or less of the area median income. This generally means a household that earns less than $55,000.

For the Consortium to be officially recognized, the government of each participating community was required to adopt a formal resolution and execute a Participation Agreement. Every municipality in Jefferson, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties, with the exception of Bayside (Ozaukee County), Sullivan (Jefferson County) and Chenequa and Oconomowoc Lake (Waukesha County), has formally approved participation in the HOME Consortium.

The Board

A 12 member Board of Directors governs the HOME Consortium.

Annual Allocation

The HOME Consortium receives an annual allocation of HOME money through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Consortium then publishes an annual budget for public comment by September, and the budget is approved by the HOME Board in October. The HOME Consortium allocates its funding into three basic categories: Administration, Core Programs, and CHDO Projects. Funding for the Core Programs is given directly to eligible families, and CHDO funds are awarded to eligible organizations through a competitive process. The Consortium also operates a County Allocation program that allowed counties to operate separate programs within their county boundaries. Each of the current programs, with the exception of the Core Programs, is operated as a competitive program that accepts applications for funding.

The Programs

Currently the HOME Consortium operates a home ownership assistance program, a purchase/rehab program, home rehabilitation assistance programs and housing counseling services.

The Consortium also carries out large scale development projects using CHDO set-aside funding as well as some program income and other dedicated revenue sources.

For more information about how the HOME program is operated by the Consortium, please see our HOME Consortium Policies and Procedures Manual [link to manual].