Council approves second emergency housing project

We are pleased to announce that the Common Council today unanimously approved legislation that will pave the way for a city-owned home to be sold and turned into emergency housing for residents and families in need.

The property – located in the 6th Aldermanic District – will be sold to the not-for-profit Foundations for Freedom, Inc., which will use a forgivable loan from the city to renovate the residence and have it ready for those in need of emergency housing.

The property is the second project approved by the Council as part of an emergency housing program that was created by a 2020 city budget amendment (Alderwoman Lewis was the primary sponsor of the amendment, and it was co-sponsored by Alderman Stamper and Alderwoman Coggs).

The pandemic and the resulting economic disaster have exacerbated the effects of poverty, our housing shortage, and domestic arrangements that can quickly become unbearable, unsafe and sometimes even violent. We are pleased to be able to provide families with basic housing and shelter, as we are also seeing an increasing number of families facing homelessness because of lead hazards, domestic violence, and other tragic circumstances and crises.

Importantly, this new property will give our fellow citizens the dignity and support they deserve during their time of need.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.