Supervisor Jack Eckblad and Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson Introduce Resolution Supporting Innovative County-Wide Affordable Housing Marketplace

MILWAUKEE, WI – On Friday, Supervisor Jack Eckblad and Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson will introduce a resolution supporting a unique partnership between Milwaukee County and CityWise, a Milwaukee-based startup focused on equitable housing solutions. The partnership will lead to the creation of an affordable housing marketplace—an online platform designed to increase equity, transparency, and accessibility for renters across the county.

The proposed website will function as a central hub for housing resources, combining affordable listings with accountability measures aimed at protecting renters. The platform will be free to use for landlords with subsidized units or fewer than 20 total units, and it will include built-in safeguards to promote safe and stable housing.

Key features of the marketplace will include:

• Transparency: All listed properties will display known municipal code violations.
• Accountability: Landlords currently in litigation with Milwaukee County or with a pattern of evictions will be barred from listing.
• Affordability: No cost to list for landlords with subsidized housing or fewer than 20 units.
• Supportive Services: Resources for unhoused residents, including a map of warming rooms during winter months.

The initiative comes as Milwaukee faces one of the tightest rental markets in the country. Since 2020, average rents in the county have risen by more than 40%, with occupancy rates holding above 94%. For many residents, that means limited options and increasing vulnerability in the housing market.

Developed in close collaboration between Supervisor Eckblad, Milwaukee County’s Housing Division, and County Executive David Crowley’s administration, the platform is the result of months of review and planning. Importantly, the marketplace will come at no cost to Milwaukee County. Operational expenses will be fully funded through modest listing fees paid by landlords who own more than 20 units.

Supervisor Eckblad said, “We need all the innovative solutions we can get when it comes to housing in Milwaukee, and this marketplace is going to be an amazing resource for tenants in need of affordable housing, anyone searching for subsidized housing, and even the unhoused looking for resources. I want to give a ton of credit to the team at the county for rolling up their sleeves and launching this partnership in record time while still prioritizing due diligence.”

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Milwaukee County Supervisory District 4 is the beating heart of Greater Milwaukee. Its borders encompass Mitchell Airport and the Port of Milwaukee. Its County Parks like Humboldt and South Shore anchor historic neighborhoods such as Bay View, Saveland, Tippecanoe, and The Garden District.

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.