ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY BY PROVIDING A QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOME FOR EVERY MILWAUKEEAN
OVERVIEW
The focus of this year’s conference is Thriving in Place: Advancing Homebuyer Support for Stronger Neighborhoods.
In the last four years, Allies have supported thousands of new homeowners, particularly in Milwaukee’s vulnerable neighborhoods.
Strategies of allies have included creating (1) Landlord Accountability Systems to combat wealth extraction and abandonment of homes, (2) New Construction Systems that create inventory for existing and returning residents, and (3) Homebuyer Support Systems to make homeownership more achievable. There is always room for improvement, so it’s time to reflect on the evolution of these systems and answer important questions about our future work.
Please join us as we work to make affordable, quality homeownership available for all Milwaukeeans!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
ABOUT CDA
This conference is hosted by the Community Development Alliance (CDA). Homeownership challenges are Complex. Solutions must be Collective.
CDA brings us together to create lasting Change.
CDA is a coalition of residents, funders, implementors, and other allies from the public and private sector advancing racial equity by providing a quality affordable home for every Milwaukeean. CDA focuses on systemwide collaboration by implementing the five elements of collective impact: (1) Common Agenda, (2) Shared Measurement, (3) Mutually Reinforcing Activities, (4) Continuous Communication, and (5) Backbone Organization. CDA is an independent 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. In 2021, CDA led the first Collective Affordable Housing Plan adopted by the City, County, and several funders and implementors. CDA has launched an Acquisition Fund to buy homes away from predatory investors and return them to homeowners, an Entry Level Homes on Vacant Lots strategy with more than 150 homes in the pipeline, and alliance members provide downpayment assistance for more than 600 families per year.
CONFERENCE BACKGROUND
Displacement has been elevated by residents as posing a risk to the quality of life of past, present and future generations in Milwaukee’s vulnerable neighborhoods. Recent data shows that a major force behind displacement is Displacement by Abandonment—the practice of predatory investors buying single family homes and duplexes, extracting rent without maintaining the property, and eventually abandoning the property—causing displacement of the last family to occupy the home and the loss of opportunities for future generations. Although Displacement by Abandonment appears to be the largest driver of displacement, it is important to also to understand other displacement including divestment and gentrification. At the conference CDA and DYCU will preview the Anti-Displacement Dashboard for feedback and direction from allies.
It is our hope that by understanding the different forms of displacement, we can create even better strategy to develop without displacement. For example, allies have developed powerful tools to combat Displacement by Abandonment in at least three ways:
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Landlord Accountability Systems such as the Reclaiming Our Neighborhood's (RON) Property Condition Survey and the City Attorney’s recent lawsuits against predatory investors have had an impact. New federal legislation for the first time has limited future acquisitions by the largest predatory investors. However, questions remain about how these new rules will be enforced and how we prepare for future inevitable abandonment by large predatory investors.
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New Construction Systems have expanded from 20 homes per year to over 80 homes per year, with the goal of providing opportunities for existing and returning residents. Hundreds of new homeowners have been supported with anti-displacement efforts such as affordable pricing, affordable deed restrictions, and resident priority. Yet questions remain on how we can balance the needs of existing residents, with the needs of other Black & Latino residents that are interested in returning to or relocating to neighborhoods where development is occurring.
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Home Buyer Support Systems such as homebuyer counseling and down payment assistance (DPA) have both grown in number, and in depth of service. These systems have grown from serving about 700 new homeowners per year, to almost 1,000 per year. Yet questions remain on how these systems can reach even deeper into the homebuyer pipeline to serve the needs of existing residents, many of whom are making $20K to $30K annually.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
Residents, Neighborhood Organizations, Advocacy Organizations, Implementors, Philanthropy, Investors, and other allies from the public and private sector, are invited to:
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Understanding how to use the Anti-Displacement Dashboard. CDA and DYCU have been working with allies and residents to understand the elements of displacement and how they can be measured. Participants will review the data collected in the areas of divestment (e.g. # of loans), abandonment (e.g. # of homes), displacement (e.g. # of families by race and income), and gentrification (e.g. # change in property values). A draft dashboard will be provided for feedback and direction from allies.
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Provide direction on Systems. Allies will be presented with the evolution of the following Systems (1) Landlord Accountability, (2) New Construction, and (3) Homebuyer Support. Participants will discuss potential improvements to these systems with an emphasis on how to better serve existing families in vulnerable neighborhoods who often are at incomes of $20,000 - $30,000/year.
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast and Check In
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
Ex Fabula Storytellers and Special Guests will kick off the event sharing how displacement is impacting our community.
9:15 – 9:30 Homeownership Update
Resident Advisory Council on Housing members and CDA staff will provide an update on strategies to increase Black & Latino homeownership.
9:30 – 9:45 Anti-Displacement Dashboard
Use will provide an overview of the draft Anti-Displacement Dashboard.
9:45 – 10:15 Data Walk
Participants will rotate between stations to provide insights and direction on each element of the Anti-Displacement Dashboard.
10:15 – 10:30 Wellness Break
10:30 – 11:00 Landlord Accountability Systems
Allies working on this system will provide an overview of the evolution of this system; and important questions for allies to consider. There will be particular emphasis on enforcement of protective policies, and preparation for large portfolios of properties that could be available.
11:00 – 11:30 Conversation
Participants will identify elements of the Landlord Accountability System that must be addressed for this work to support thriving in place.
11:30 – 11:45 Grab Lunch
11:45 – 12:15 New Construction Systems
Allies working on this system will provide an overview of the
evolution of this system; and important questions for allies to
consider. There will be particular focus on how pricing is set, what
affordable deed restrictions are in place, and resident preference
policies.
12:15 – 12:45 Conversation
Participants will identify elements of the Landlord Accountability
System that must be addressed for this work to support thriving
in place.
12:45 – 1:15 Homebuyer Support Systems
Allies working on this system will provide an overview of the evolution of this system; and important questions for allies to consider. There will be particular focus on approaches adopted in the last few years to reach families already living in vulnerable neighborhoods (e.g. outreach, cohort model, etc.)
1:15 – 1:45 Conversation
Participants will identify elements of the Landlord Accountability System that must be addressed for this work to support thriving in place.
1:45 – 2:00 Closing
Ex Fabula Storytellers and CDA staff will close the event with next steps on Thriving in Place
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone who is passionate about housing and ending systemic racism. Our audience will be made of residents, neighborhood organizations, advocacy organizations, implementers, philanthropic organizations, and other allies from the public and private sector.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Several of our allies want to do a deep dive on information before the conference. If that's you, please join us for a pre-conference virtual seminar on Thriving in Place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
REGISTER FOR THE
PRE-CONFERENCE HERE
