By reviewing neighborhood quality of life plans and survey data, two major themes were prevalent. First, homeownership is a priority for Black and Latino families. Second, housing needs to be affordable in the context of the incomes of people that live in Milwaukee neighborhoods. An extensive review of data confirms these priorities and highlights just how big the problem will continue to grow without intervention. Milwaukee needs systems that break down barriers to create opportunities for 32,000 new Black and Latino Homeowners to end racial disparities in homeownership
Since the plan’s completion, the CDA has focused on several strategies designed to boost homeownership among Black and Latino families, raising $26 million in grants and equity for its work and leveraging millions more in development value. It currently is supporting the construction of 166 entry-level homes by several partner organizations and has created an $8 million acquisition fund that is being used to purchase properties from landlords for sale to homebuyers; to date, 40 properties have been acquired through that fund and eight of those have been rehabbed and sold.