Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity Joins Pope Leo Village Initiative
MILWAUKEE, WI – January 29, 2025 – Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is proud to join the Pope Leo Village initiative, a multi-city project sponsored and inspired by an anonymous donor committed to Pope Leo’s vision and lifelong call to serve others. Milwaukee Habitat is one of sixteen Habitat affiliates nationwide participating in the initiative, which seeks to inspire and activate young people to volunteer and financially support the mission of Habitat for Humanity.
Milwaukee’s Pope Leo Village initiative will help sponsor the construction of seven affordable homes in the Bronzeville and Harambee neighborhoods in 2026 and 2027, with construction beginning in summer 2026. These homes will help local families invest in the stability of homeownership.
“At a time when too many families are priced out of homeownership, this initiative is a powerful reminder that affordable housing is built through community, service, and shared responsibility,” said Brian Sonderman, CEO of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. “Pope Leo Village invites young people and schools to put love into action by building alongside future homeowners and investing in the future of our city.”
The goal of Pope Leo Village is to engage schools, students, and faith communities in hands-on service that supports affordable homeownership. Through volunteering, fundraising, and learning opportunities, young people will play a meaningful role in helping families become first-time homebuyers.
Like all Habitat homes, the Pope Leo Village homes in Milwaukee will be built in partnership with future homeowners, who contribute sweat equity hours and purchase their homes with an affordable mortgage. This work aligns with Milwaukee Habitat’s broader commitment to expand affordable homeownership opportunities and increase the number of families they partner with each year.
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity officially announced joining the Pope Leo Village initiative at their Annual Building on Faith Breakfast hosted at Marquette University on January 29, 2026.
All those inspired by Pope Leo’s call to serve others are encouraged to get involved through volunteering, fundraising, and supporting affordable homeownership in Milwaukee. For more information, contact Kristi Sebald, Volunteer Services and Events Manager, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity at ksebald@milwaukeehabitat.org.
About Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
Milwaukee is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis where one in three renters are spending half or more of their income on housing. Milwaukee Habitat is here to combat our city’s affordable housing crisis by helping families earning below the median income invest in and preserve homeownership. Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity helps families become first-time homebuyers and makes critical home repair affordable for existing homeowners. Since our founding in 1984, Milwaukee Habitat has helped more than 1500 local families build or repair a place to call home. www.milwaukeehabitat.org
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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