Hebron House of Hospitality

Summary: Hebron House of Hospitality (HHH) is a Waukesha area nonprofit working to address the problem of homelessness in its target area. The Partnership assisted HHH in gaining CHDO certification, which will allow the organization to use federal HOME funds for housing production.  To contact Hebron House, call 262/549-8720. 

Wisconsin Partnership's role: CHDO TA provider

Staff contacts: Kristin Silva

Status of work: Completed in 2002

Hebron House of Hospitality (HHH) was founded in 1983 to address the issue of homelessness in the Waukesha area. Over the years the agency—beginning as an ecumenical effort by a group of 30 area churches—grew significantly. A paid staff of 30+ now manages two shelters, 41 efficiency apartments and a safe haven for people with mental health issues who are living on the streets.

Because the need for assistance to homeless individuals and families continues to grow, HHH decided in 2001 to pursue certification as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). As a CHDO, the agency would have access to federal HOME funds for housing production. Under its CHDO-TA contract with HUD, the Wisconsin Partnership guided HHH staff and board members through the certification process.

According to the HUD HOME regulations, a CHDO must meet certain requirements pertaining to legal status, organizational structure, and capacity and experience. HHH easily met two of the requirements—legal status and capacity and experience—but needed help meeting the organizational structure qualifications. Specifically, a CHDO must have a board structure in which at least one-third of its members are representatives of the low-income community, either by being low-income themselves, by living in a low-income census tract, or by being a representative of a low-income neighborhood organization. HHH worked hard to enroll board members who met this requirement, in the process increasing its board to 15 members, with 5 representing the low-income community.

Following certification, HHH intended to focus on rental housing production, because that was the greatest community need. Planning for the first project—an 8-unit apartment building—began in late 2002.