UMOS Housing Program

The UMOS housing department began in response to the chronic need experienced by migrant workers coming to Wisconsin. Many migrant workers experienced homelessness early in each season, and UMOS' supportive services often became overburdened as a result. In response, UMOS sought a more systemic solution to the migrant housing issue by developing farm labor housing for migrant families. Thus, UMOS began its expansion of housing activities that has included efforts to impact the total spectrum of housing needs for its service populations, including not only provision of supportive services, but the development of physical assets for housing and other service delivery, advocacy, education for renters and homebuyers, and home financing.

The goal of the UMOS Housing Department is to provide a continuum of services that will impact the full spectrum of need experienced by the people we serve.

Jefferson Apartments

On October 10th, 2007 UMOS hosted an open house to celebrate the completion of the rehab of the former Vista Flores Apartments purchased in 2006 from La Raza Farm Labor Housing, Inc. The apartments are now known as the UMOS Jefferson Apartments, located in Jefferson, Wisconsin. UMOS, through a USDA/Rural Development 514/516 loan/grant, completed renovations on the 16-unit, two and three bedroom apartments, both interior and exterior. Renovations included new roofs, bathrooms, kitchens, doors, windows, and parking lot.

WHEDA Funds for the Aurora Center

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) granted the UMOS Aurora Center $25,000 for the repair of roofs on 10 buildings. The project was completed in the spring of 2007.

UMOS Housing Programs Include

Seasonal Rental Housing for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers at Aurora, Montello and Claremont Centers

Overview - This project was originally funded as a migrant homeless project under HUD Emergency Shelter Grants with additional funds from Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). The Aurora Center and Montello Center (Wisconsin) properties were ultimately purchased by UMOS and refurbished under USDA 514/516 Farm Labor Housing loans and grants. The Claremont Center (Minnesota) was purchased to provide housing to migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) in response to a local committee consisting of former farmworkers and Latinos in the south east area of Minnesota.

Dollar Amount - Programs funded out of project income which is a variable.

Services Provided - The Aurora and Montello Centers in Wisconsin and the Claremont Center in Minnesota are rental housing facilities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. UMOS also utilizes these facilities to provide free emergency housing to homeless migrants during the season in combination with other UMOS supportive services. These facilities are also used as a platform for other UMOS Services. In Wisconsin, Migrant Day Care and Migrant Head Start programs are provided at facilities constructed onsite.

Funding Sources - On-site supportive services are provided by various UMOS programs. The housing projects are supported by rental income from the tenants, as well as Rental Assistance, which is provided to the individual tenants according to income. The project is also subsidized by the UMOS Comprehensive Crisis Relief (CCR) program, funded under CSBG.

Populations Served - Migrant farmworkers and their families.

Goals and Objectives - Provide access to safe, decent, affordable rental housing for migrants and their families, as well as emergency housing for homeless migrant families.

Program Outcomes/Performance Benchmarks - Housing center programs are operated as a business to minimize cost and maximize occupancy. This approach helps to ensure the desired effect of increasing housing availability for migrant workers in Wisconsin.

Transitional Rental Program

Overview - Many migrant workers experienced homelessness early in each season, and UMOS' supportive services sought to fill this housing void.

UMOS purchased the Beaver Dam Apartments through a USDA/Rural Development 514/516 loan/grant. The two story, 12-unit, two bedroom apartments serves as transitional living (up to 24 months) for those migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families that wish to remain in the state of Wisconsin throughout the year. During their stay tenants receive housing counseling education and are referred to employment and training opportunities through the WIA-167 MSFW program. Rental Assistance is available through USDA Rural Development for those families that meet the income criteria.

The UMOS Jefferson Apartments also serve to meet this transitional housing need. UMOS also owns and operates seasonal farm labor housing in Berlin, and Montello Wisconsin, as well as in Claremont, Minnesota.

Dollar Amount - Programs funded out of project income which is a variable.

Services Provided - The Beaver Dam and Jefferson Apartments in Wisconsin are rental housing facilities for migrant and retired low income farmworkers that wish to remain in the state of WI throughout the year and retire from the migrant/seasonal agricultural life style.

Funding Sources - The housing projects are supported by rental income from the tenants, as well as Rental Assistance, which is provided to the individual tenants according to income.

Populations Served - Migrant, seasonal and retired farmworkers and their families.

Goals and Objectives - Provide access to safe, decent, affordable rental housing for farm workers and their families.

Program Outcomes/Performance Benchmarks - Housing center programs are operated as a business to minimize cost and maximize occupancy. This approach helps to ensure the desired effect of increasing housing availability for migrant workers in Wisconsin.

Eight-State Migrant Housing Consortium Program in Midwestern States (DOL 167)

Overview - This is a consortium of organizations in eight Midwestern states organized to promote better housing options for migrant workers through support, advocacy and development. UMOS provides services directly in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, and Missouri and subcontracts to organizations in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Services Provided - Services provided in these states vary from housing predevelopment and development activities, supportive services, housing counseling and education for renters and first time home buyers, to fair housing services and other advocacy.

Funding Sources - This program is funded under DOL, WIA-167. Populations Served - Migrant and other seasonal farmworkers.

Goals and Objectives - Goals and objectives are set by the different subcontractors and vary by state.

Program Outcomes/Performance Benchmarks - Vary by state.

514/516 USDA Technical Assistance Program

Overview - This is a contract under the Rural Housing Service of USDA to provide technical assistance services to organizations located in a 15-state area of the Central United States that are interested in developing Farm Labor Housing projects under the USDA 514/516 program.

Dollar Amount - $375,000 over three years, through June, 2007.

Services Provided - UMOS provides technical assistance in the various aspects of developing Farm Labor Housing, from the pre-application phase, through construction, including rent-up and management. This assistance is available to private and public non-profit organizations within the 15-state area. The states include WI, MI, MN, ND, SD, NE, IA, KS, OK, TX, LA, MS, AR, MO and IL. UMOS partners with Tierra del Sol Housing (Las Cruces, NM) in this project.

Funding Sources - This program is funded out of the USDA 514/516 program.

Populations Served - Eligible non-profits providing housing to farm laborers.

Goals and Objectives - Increase the availability of decent, affordable housing to migrant farmworkers in the central states area by providing technical assistance and capacitybuilding services to organizations willing to develop housing.

Program Outcomes/Performance Benchmarks - During a threeyear period, UMOS will provide 12 group presentations per year, and 12 one-on-one meetings in outreaching potential developing organizations. UMOS will provide technical assistance to 13 organizations that will produce 10 project applications during the three-year period with a 60% success rate.

Farmworker Housing Programs

UMOS provided housing counseling, education and training in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Midwestern states for migrant and seasonal farm workers, as well as organizations serving this population.

Overview - The housing counseling and education for renters and first time home buyers program is offered to UMOS tenants at the five housing centers and to farmworkers in the surrounding areas. Certified staff works with farmworkers on one-on-one and group settings with the Realizing the American Dream and Rent Smart curricula, fair housing information is included in every presentation.

Services Provided - Through workshops or one-on-one consultations, participants are educated on how to obtain and maintain safe, decent and affordable housing as a renter or home owner. This is done through a number of tools used in the curricula that allow participants to see the impact of income and expenses, spending habits, credit history, landlord/tenant communication, rights and responsibilities, toward housing. Additionally we provide fair housing information to migrants, immigrants and other minorities in order inform them of their rights under Fair Housing law to increase assertion of rights under the Fair Housing Law as well as referring them to appropriate agencies if needed.

Additionally UMOS provides training and direct services to organizations and individual community members seeking to develop farm labor housing, participate and conduct homebuyer education services, and develop skills and competency to develop and finance farm labor housing units and related services throughout various Midwestern states.

Funding Sources - $413,316 from Department of Labor (DOL) WIA-167 funds this project for fiscal year 2007. UMOS has provided training to other organizations who wish to use this curriculum and fund it from various funding sources.

Populations Served - migrant/seasonal farmworkers and low income populations in need of housing assistance.

Goals and Objectives - Assist persons to be knowledgeable tenants and to better manage their resources in order to maintain adequate housing for their families, and to build references and better practices for the future, and to become knowledgeable in the process of becoming homeowners.

Vouchers for the Homeless

Overview - Through funding from the Department of Commerce Bureau of Supportive Housing UMOS has received funding to offer vouchers to people suffering from homelessness. With the funding received through the State Shelter Subsidy Grant UMOS provided families with vouchers for a total of 4,759 shelter nights in the year 2007.

Services Provided - Voucher for the homeless, housing counseling and education, and referral to services like food pantries, entitlement programs within UMOS and other community based organizations.

Funding Sources - $99,546 from Department of Commerce Bureau of Supportive Housing - State Shelter Subsidy Grant.

Populations Served - Homeless individuals and families throughout 57 counties in Wisconsin.

Goals and Objectives - Provide a safe location for individuals and families suffering from homelessness, educate families and individuals on how to eliminate homelessness and avoid future homelessness through housing counseling and education and provide referrals to services to meet the immediate and long term needs of the individuals and families served with vouchers.