Workforce housing rehabilitation loan program
Wis. Stat. § 234.045
in effect(1) Definition. In this section, “eligible rehabilitation” means an improvement to housing to maintain the housing in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition or to restore it to that condition if the improvement is the removal of lead paint, asbestos, mold, or other internal environmental contamination in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations or constitutes a structural improvement, including any of the following:
(a) Repairing or replacing a heating system, electrical system, internal plumbing system, interior wall or ceiling, roof, window, exterior door, or flooring.
(b) Repairing the foundation.
(c) Repairing or replacing insulation or siding.
(2) Workforce housing rehabilitation loans.
(a) From the housing rehabilitation loan fund, the authority may make a loan to a person applying for the loan to pay for the cost of eligible rehabilitation to the applicant’s home if all of the following apply:
1. The applicant’s household annual income does not exceed 120 percent of the area median family income for the county in which the housing is located, adjusted for family size, as published annually by the federal department of housing and urban development.
2. The applicant’s home is a single-family residence that the applicant occupies as the applicant’s primary residence and that was constructed at least 40 years prior to the date of the applicant’s loan application.
3. The applicant agrees to the terms of the loan, including a requirement to repay the loan by making monthly principal and interest payments so that the loan, including all interest, is fully repaid within the loan term established under subd. 4., a requirement to repay the loan, including all interest, upon the applicant selling or otherwise transferring title to the residence to another person, and all other terms established by the authority.
4. The loan term does not exceed 15 years.
5. The amount of the loan does not exceed $50,000 or 100 percent of the appraised value of the residence after completion of the eligible rehabilitation, whichever is less.
6. The applicant does not have another loan under this section pending with the authority at the time of application.
7. The applicant’s home has not been the subject of a claim for a state or federal historic rehabilitation tax credit, as determined by the authority.
8. The applicant’s home has not received financial assistance from tax increments generated by an active tax incremental district.
(b) The authority may establish an interest rate for any loan made under par. (a) at or below the market interest rate or may charge no interest.
(c) If a loan recipient’s home contains lead paint, asbestos, or mold, the authority’s loan agreement with the recipient shall require the recipient to remediate the hazardous material or condition as required by and in accordance with local, state, and federal laws or regulations.
(3) Policies and procedures. The authority shall establish policies and procedures to administer the housing rehabilitation loan fund and the program under this section. The policies and procedures shall, to the extent practicable, do all of the following:
(a) Incorporate the authority’s policies and procedures for establishing credit underwriting guidelines.
(b) Establish loan repayment requirements.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/234.045Fetched: 10/7/2026