William C. Perkins

Executive Director

• More than 35 years' experience in affordable housing development and finance, neighborhood revitalization, and housing policy development
  
  
• Demonstrated success in working with communities of all sizes, both in Wisconsin and around the country, to design and implement local housing and neighborhood partnerships
  
  
• Nationally recognized as a leader in housing policy

William C. Perkins founded the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development in 1985 and has been its Executive Director since then. The Partnership is a private nonprofit corporation created to build strong neighborhoods and expand housing options for low and moderate income people through housing production, technical assistance and consulting, innovation in development finance, and creation of local housing partnerships.

In 1992 Bill launched the Partnership's development program, which has since completed Vandenburg Homes, the first "green" affordable housing project in the country, and Coachyard Square, a new development of 23 condominiums in downtown Madison. The Uplands, a new subdivision of 142 homes, is now under construction in Sun Prairie. In addition to managing the Partnership's development team, Bill is responsible for design and site planning.

Public-private partnerships are a key element of the Partnership's mission. Bill has directed work on local housing and neighborhood partnerships in Wisconsin and other states.

• Racine Housing and Neighborhood Partnership
  
  Directed creation of a local housing partnership to which the City of Racine committed $2.3 million in CDBG and HOME funds for a multi-year revitalization of central-city neighborhoods. Since 1998, the RHNP's work in its first target area has resulted in higher property values, a higher rate of owner-occupancy, and improvements to owner-occupied and investor-owned properties. Private funds totaling more than $500,00 have been raised.
  
  
• City of Des Moines
  
  Consulted on creation of a neighborhood revitalization program. One result, the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, was initially capitalized by $19 million in private-sector funds. By 2005, the NFC had made loans totaling $125 million on projects comprising more than 3,000 housing units. In 2005, Bill returned to Des Moines to staff a comprehensive program evaluation and make recommendations for future operations.

  
  

Under Bill's direction the Partnership has raised over $65 million in private and public capital to finance construction and rehabilitation of lower income housing throughout Wisconsin. He was directly responsible for designing and implementing the Partnership's largest financing programs.

• Housing Partnership Corporation
  
  Secured initial commitments of $7 million from 13 private corporations and public agencies to capitalize a Milwaukee-based revolving loan fund. Subsequently recruited new participants and secured additional commitments totaling another $15 million. Oversaw underwriting and closing of $18 million in loans on 1,000 homes and apartments.
  
  
• Housing Equity Fund, Inc.
  
  Organized a partnership of Milwaukee corporations who committed more than $20 million over nine years to make equity investments in housing projects under the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
  

In addition to securing resources to support the Partnership's housing development, technical assistance and public policy initiatives, Bill has a record of success in securing funds to support affordable housing in the state of Wisconsin.

• Spurring Creation of New State Housing Programs
  
  Directed efforts of a statewide coalition organized by the Partnership to create a Wisconsin Housing Trust Fund. By 2002 programs established as a result of these efforts had provided over $35 million in state funds for home ownership and rental assistance to lower income households and for capacity-building grants to local housing organizations.
  
  
• Bringing Federal Funds to Wisconsin
  
  Wrote six successful proposals in national competitions that secured almost $3.4 million in HUD funding for technical assistance to community-based development corporations, local governments and the state government.

Before founding the Partnership, Bill worked for nine years in the Wisconsin Division of Housing. He developed legislation securing more than $10 million in state funds for a new home improvement loan program and designed the state's first home mortgage loan program. He also directed a staff of 27 charged with managing housing finance programs and providing technical assistance to community-based housing organizations. Previously Bill co-founded the Community Resources Group, a private consulting firm that worked in neighborhoods throughout New England to prevent displacement of lower income residents and promote long-term residency.

Bill holds a master's degree with distinction in city and regional planning from Harvard University. He received a Richard King Mellon Fellowship in city planning and a Frederick Sheldon Traveling Fellowship. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in design from Southern Illinois University.

Email William C. Perkins at billperkins@wphd.org, or call 608/258-5560 x23.