Milwaukee County leaders debuted an effort June 17 to address a shortage of affordable housing in the city with a new initiative to give renters a path to home ownership and generational housing.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Emem Group, Milwaukee Habitat for Community and other city leaders cut the ribbon on new housing units for the King Park Homeownership Initiative in Milwaukee.
The King Park Homeownership Initiative is funded through $6 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to Michael Emem, the president and CEO of the Emem Group. Construction for the initiative broke ground in 2023.
“We know housing is a foundation for health, safety, and economic mobility. These homes are a step toward a stronger, more equitable future for our community,” Crowley said.
The event June 17 was the second big event of the week for the near north side neighborhood. On June 13, the county unveiled its new $32 million Marcia P. Coggs Health & Human Services Center at 1230 W. Cherry St., creating a hub for essential services and upgrading access for residents across the county.
For the housing initiative, the goal is to build 120 affordable homes in underserved areas. Emem Group, a local real estate firm, will build 20 duplexes, while Habitat for Humanity will build 80 single-family homes, Emem said.
To date, six rental houses have been built in King Park, and the rest will be finished by Thanksgiving, according to Emem.
The buildings will be up for rent for tenants for 15 years, after which tenants can buy the house below the cost of the building, according to Emem.
When residents transition from renters to homeowners, they will get financial literacy workshops and counseling from Habitat for Humanity.
Crowley said the path toward home ownership would help to reduce racial disparities in housing by increasing financial literacy.
“Financial literacy gives them that one-on-one not only so they can be here and move into sustainable housing but also maintain that sustainable housing,” Crowley said in an interview.
Al Smith, the chief operating officer of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, said the financial counseling with the program makes sure the residents can transition from renters to homeowners.
“What we’re celebrating today is more than just a ribbon cutting, it’s a commitment to housing across the spectrum, it’s a recognition that no one organization can meet the challenges we have before and working together we can make that happen,” Smith said.
Housing disparities are not a new issue in Milwaukee, which is known as one of the most segregated metropolitan areas in the United States. For instance, A report in April found that Milwaukee renters using Section 8 housing vouchers face discrimination.
Taquilla Thomas, 28, lives in one of the new King Park houses.
Thomas noticed in 2023 the difficulties of buying affordable housing in the Milwaukee area. When she was scrolling on Facebook, she noticed the application for Midtown Duplexes and decided to apply.
Now in the house, Thomas said she and her two sons, ages 6 and 1, are happy to be living in the new neighborhood while feeling safe.
“Actually, my 6-year-old is very excited, he tells me probably every day ‘I love our new house, I love our new house.’ So, I really did it for him, you know, somewhere they can be comfortable and safe,” Thomas said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Affordable housing initiative in Milwaukee’s King Park neighborhood creates a pathway to ownership
Reporting by Maya Bell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
