HOME Homebuyer and Rehabilitation Program (HHR)

Program Overview

The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) prioritizes homeownership and the preservation of safe, quality owner-occupied housing when allocating federal and state housing resources. Through funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), DEHCR supports programs that assist low- and moderate-income households with home purchases, rehabilitation, and essential improvements.

This program is administered by the Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources within the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and is funded by HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Funds are awarded biennially to local governments and housing organizations across Wisconsin who deliver direct services to eligible households. A current list of all service providers is available on the DEHCR website: Wisconsin Housing & Energy Assistance Providers

Eligible Activities

Homebuyer Assistance: Grantees may provide direct assistance to eligible homebuyers for

Acquisition (down payment and closing costs
Acquisition and rehabilitation
New construction for sale to low‑ and moderate‑income (LMI) homebuyers earning at or below 80% of the County Median Income

Owner- Occupied Rehabilitation: Funding is available for essential improvements to single‑family homes that serve as the principal residence of LMI homeowners. Eligible costs may include:

Energy‑related improvements
Accessibility modifications
Lead‑based paint hazard reduction

Code violation repairs

Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO)

A Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) is a special designation for nonprofit housing developers that meet criteria set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The CHDO designation may provide particular benefits to the organization as it develops and/or operates housing. An organization, which is designated as a CHDO can potentially qualify for special project funds, operating funds, and technical assistance associated with a project, and may be eligible to retain project proceeds.

To qualify as a CHDO, an organization must:

Include in its charter, resolutions, or by-laws, a statement that among its purposes is the development of decent housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income persons.
Be community-based, with at least one-third of its board representing low-income residents.
Be created by a public body provided the nonprofit is not controlled by the public body, therefore, no more than one-third of the board may be public officials.
Meet requirements to maintain accountability to low-income community residents.
Show a demonstrated history and capacity for carrying out housing development in the geographic area that the organization serves.

For homebuyer development, a CHDO must act as the developer, meaning it owns, develops, and sells the housing, arranges financing, and oversees construction.

Interested in becoming a CHDO?

Nonprofits seeking CHDO designation must submit documentation verifying legal status, organizational structure, development capacity, and relationships with for‑profit entities when applying for HOME HHR funds.

Program Resources

The materials below support the administration of the HOME Homebuyer and Rehabilitation Program (HHR) and ensure compliance with 24 CFR Part 92. These documents are intended for applicatants, grantees, CHDOs, and partner organizations that deliver services on behalf of DEHCR. Households seeking assistance should contact their local HHR provider.