Phoenix Residential, a 31-unit affordable housing development in the works on Milwaukee’s north side, would become the first of its kind in Wisconsin — a small-scale facility with crisis units and access to mental health and housing education services for residents.
Construction started at the 2436 North 50th Street historical building in June and is estimated to be completed by April.
The development combines 21 permanent rooms funded by residential assistance vouchers and 10 crisis units for individuals who need housing quickly, James Mathy, housing administrator with the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, said during a walk-through on Aug. 20.
The housing development will join a handful of similar facilities nationwide, Mathy said, and hopefully, the smaller size will be inviting to individuals who are hesitant to utilize larger homeless shelters.
“This is better for the people that we serve,” he said. “It’s not quite as overwhelming, and we are really able to cater those services directly to those individuals.”
Mathy said there won’t be a limit on stays.
“We really want our clients to determine how long they need to be here. So it could be one day, it could be six months,” Mathy said. “Our goal is to take folks in housing like this and move them into permanent apartments as quickly as possible.”
The building recently housed a rehabilitation center and before that was home to nuns and priests. It later became Milwaukee’s first Jewish home.
“This place has always been a place of care and also social impact and relationship with the city and the county. Here, we want to continue that legacy of social impact,” said Anthony Kazee, of KG Development.
Tenancy support would seek to help those in crisis housing maintain permanent housing, Mathy said.
Kazee said funding came from 10 sources, including federal, state, county and city funds, such as such as low-income housing tax credits.
Milwaukee County invested more than $1.3 million.
“This helps to eliminate barriers that people may see when it comes down to being on the road to recovery, looking for work, assessing health services but simply picking themselves up,” County Executive David Crowley said.
The project received historical tax credits to allow redevelopment of the building, while historical elements like doors and windows will remain.
Milwaukee County Housing Division will be responsible for filling the units.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee’s Phoenix Residential will be a first of its kind affordable housing center for Wisconsin
Reporting by Sophia Tiedge , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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