June 16, 2023

Housing Partnerships in Milwaukee County Recognized Nationally

Greater Milwaukee Foundation one of only nine organizations awarded 2023 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

MILWAUKEE, WI – This month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council on Foundations awarded the Greater Milwaukee Foundation – a founding partner and a principal funder of the Community Development Alliance (CDA) – the 2023 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. In its role, the Foundation helps develop strategy and align resources with partners in government and the nonprofit sector to advance shared goals. The award comes as the issue of addressing local housing needs gains momentum across the county. 

“Congratulations to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation on a well-earned recognition for their vital work fostering partnerships addressing our community’s housing needs. Milwaukee County is a stand-out nationally on addressing housing needs because government, philanthropies, and businesses are all on the same page, working together to achieve shared housing goals,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “The best part about the culture we’ve built around address housing is that we know it is working. Whether it is almost eliminating chronic homelessness or creating a brand-new rental resource center to prevent harmful evictions, partnerships continue to be the secret sauce to moving the needle on critical housing needs.” 

Recently, Milwaukee County joined Habitat Milwaukee and community partners to break ground on single family home developments in the King Park and Midtown Neighborhoods. The county’s total investment in the housing project is $6 million. The goal of the development is to build 120 new homes in the neighborhood for first time homeowners. In lockstep with the CDA Collective Affordable Housing Plan, the project focuses on Black and Latino families to narrow Milwaukee County’s racial disparities in homeownership.

Last week, Housing Services Administrator Jim Mathy testified to the County Board Health Equity, Human Needs and Strategic Planning Committee on the overwhelming success of Milwaukee County’s rental and mortgage assistance program funded by federal COVID-19 relief funds. Since 2020, Milwaukee County has successfully dispersed over $80 million to 22,600 unique households, undoubtedly helping keep residents in their homes during the height of the pandemic and avoiding a massive humanitarian crisis locally.

Read the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s announcement here.
Read more about the Public-Philanthropic Partnerships award winners here. 

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