The Community Development Alliance is committed to advancing racial equity in both outcomes and process. CDA hosts an annual conference convening residents, neighborhood organizations, implementors, funders and other allies to build housing strategy. Learn more at www.housingplan.org

The Next GENeration Homes Tour is a community-centered bus tour that highlights innovative, affordable housing solutions across Milwaukee. The tour features five different model homes located in the Washington Park, Midtown, Harambee, Thurston Woods, and Muskego Way neighborhoods, with a special stop in the Garden Homes neighborhood. At each stop, attendees heard directly from the builders—Rooted & Rising, Emem Group, Habitat for Humanity, 30th Street Industrial Corridor, LUSH, and Milwaukee Christian Center—who shared insights about the home’s construction, unique features, and their broader mission to increase equitable homeownership. Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions, engage with developers, and provide feedback on the design and livability of each home—helping shape the future of housing in Milwaukee.

NEW CONSTRUCTION & EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HOMES: In 2023, VIA CDC began developing new construction entry-level homes on Milwaukee’s vacant lots. These 3-bed/1-bath 1100 sq. ft. homes have a projected sale price of $105,000 and utilize a neighbor-informed model (copyrighted blueprint) that is tailored to Milwaukee’s vacant lots (with a narrower footprint) and designed for growing families (with plumbed basements and egress windows to add two future bedrooms and a bathroom in the basement). VIA is partnering with LISC Milwaukee and the Community Development Alliance to develop these homes for the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Home initiative - a project focused on clustering homes around Early Childhood Education centers with the intent of increasing employee retainment by providing childhood educators with affordable housing opportunities. Throughout 2024-6, VIA will develop 20 ECE homes in neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee - Clarke Square (1), Lincoln Village (2), Historic Mitchell Street (3), Muskego Way (2), Silver City (1), Amani (2), Metcalfe Park (4) and Washington Park (5). This initiative responds to the collective goals of Milwaukee’s affordable housing strategic plan, focusing on increasing Black and Latino homeownership and addressing the gap in affordable entry-level homes throughout the city.

Herb Kohl Philanthropies invests $1 Million into homes for Early Childhood Educators in the Harambee Neighborhood. More details of this amazing program at www.housingplan.org/ece.

The Community Development Alliance is committed to advancing racial equity in both outcomes and process. CDA convenes residents, neighborhood organizations, implementors, funders and other allies to build housing strategy. Check out more about the Homeowner Bill of Rights at https://www.housingplan.org/homeowner-bor

Community Development Alliance (CDA) believes that homeownership is a catalyst for dismantling systemic racism and building strong communities. That’s why our work as accomplices with community is centered on people and policy. By working collaboratively with residents, community organizations, elected officials, business leaders, philanthropic leaders, home developers, counseling agencies, and housing allies, we invest in neighborhoods, providing access to quality homes for Milwaukee families and nurturing capacity for Black and Brown families to build generational wealth. What resulted from this work is Milwaukee’s Collective Affordable Housing Strategic Plan, the first of its kind anywhere. The plan brings together a range of collaborators to increase Black and Latino homeownership and create affordable housing for families making $7.25 - $15 / hour. www.housingplan.org

The Community Development Alliance has received a $7.5 Million grant from Wells Fargo's WORTH Initiative to support Black & Latino homeownership