City of Milwaukee - File #: R13613

• File #: R13613
• Version: 0
• Type: Housing Authority Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 7/3/2025
• In control: HOUSING AUTHORITY
• On agenda: 7/9/2025
• Final action: 7/9/2025
• Title: Resolution approving a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the reallocation of twenty-five (25) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers from the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), removing them from HACM’s Consolidated Annual Contribution Contract, with the goal of increased utilization
• Sponsors: THE CHAIR

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
7/9/2025	0	HOUSING AUTHORITY	Minutes note: Ken Barbeau, HACM’s Interim Secretary-Executive Director, explained that Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers are designated for homeless veterans, with referrals provided by the Veterans Administration (VA). HACM currently receives 372 VASH vouchers from HUD —271 of which are tenant-based, while 101 are project-based and tied to units at the National Soldiers Home, located on the VA grounds. Mr. Barbeau noted that since accepting the VASH vouchers, HACM has never reached full utilization. Typically, the agency is actively administering between 275 and 290 vouchers, with the rest unused. In May 2025, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center approached HACM about a reallocation of 25 of HACM’s tenant-based VASH vouchers from HACM to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Both HUD and WHEDA, along with HACM, support the reallocation, recognizing that WHEDA has the staffing capacity and broader geographic reach to better utilize the vouchers. WHEDA currently maintains a 98% utilization rate and is well-positioned to house individuals more quickly and provide veterans with more housing options. Commissioners asked if there were any negatives to this reallocation. Mr. Barbeau emphasized that this reallocation would benefit HACM by transferring underutilized and therefore unfunded vouchers to an agency that can put them to immediate use—raising HACM’s utilization percentage, but most importantly, ultimately helping more veterans access stable housing and supportive services.

Number
13613

Version
Original

Reference

Sponsor
The Chair

Title
Resolution approving a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the reallocation of twenty-five (25) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers from the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), removing them from HACM’s Consolidated Annual Contribution Contract, with the goal of increased utilization
Analysis

Body
WHEREAS, HUD currently allocates 372 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers in total to HACM in partnership with Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center (CZVAMC); and

WHEREAS, currently only 79% of the vouchers allocated to HACM currently are leased to VASH participants; and

WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) also manages a voucher program, including a total of 99 VASH vouchers in the CZVAMC catchment area, and their voucher utilization is currently at 98% with 89% of the vouchers currently under lease; and

WHEREAS, HUD Notice PIH 2022-25 (HA) on Voluntary Reallocation or Recapture of HUD-VASH Vouchers details the process that a PHA may voluntarily reallocate all or a portion of their VASH vouchers to another PHA within the same area, which includes agreement by all partners and approval by the respective Boards; and

WHEREAS, the VAMC, WHEDA, HUD Field Office, and HACM have communicated, assessed the situation, and are all in agreement that this reallocation of 25 VASH vouchers and (including associated funding) from HACM to WHEDA can result in a higher utilization and more homeless veterans housed faster, with the ability to use the voucher in a larger geographic area in the CZVAMC catchment area; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee that HACM request a reallocation of 25 currently unused VASH vouchers be reallocated from HACM to WHEDA, t...