Updates

Interfaith Conference continues to remain active in various affordable housing efforts throughout the metro region.  The Conference participates in grassroots groups in Waukesha County and in Milwaukee.  The Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force’s long-term goal is to have Waukesha County establish a housing trust fund and has recently begun to work toward achieving this goal. 

On Tuesday, December 2, 2008 over 70 people gathered in Waukesha to support our campaign for a housing trust fund in Waukesha County, the Creating Communities Campaign. Those in attendance were primarily members of faith groups and nonprofit organizations, and also included developers and representatives of local and state governmental agencies. Thanks to all those who attended to display community concern for the crucial issue of affordable housing in Waukesha County.

The Creating Communities Campaign in Waukesha County is continuing to move forward.  To stay up to date on all that is happening, go to the group’s webpage or visit the blog. 

www.affordablehousingtaskforce.org

http://creatingcommunities.blogspot.com/

The Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition has remained strong and active in the continued push for revenue sources.  In anticipation of the proposed 2009 City Budget, the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition took steps to persuade the mayor to set aside one million dollars in the budget for the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund.  On June 18, 2008 a group of nearly 200 supporters gathered in the City Hall Rotunda to rally for the one million dollars in the 2009 budget (photo below). 

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History

In May 2004 Interfaith Conference together with numerous other faith and community based organizations formed the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition. This coalition grew out of an increasing need in Milwaukee for decent, accessible, affordable housing. With the decline in federal dollars and the increased poverty rate in Milwaukee, creating a local fund to support affordable housing is a solution backed by many. As a result, this diverse coalition has grown to include over 130 endorsers of a Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund.

From 2004 until 2006 a multitude of grassroots activities were held by the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition.  Eventually the success of such actions led up to the passed legislation of the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund in 2006.  An eleven-year veteran to the Common Council commented in a letter to Housing Trust Fund supporters that, “your effort was the most effective grassroots campaign that I have seen in all of my years in city government.”  After the passed legislation in 2006, the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund received $2.5 million in initial funding for 2007.

As 2007 arrived, the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board was formed and worked to issue its first Request for Proposals.  That same year, the Mayor’s 2008 city budget proposal revealed that only $400,000 would be available for the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund.  This amount fell far short of the amount called for in the legislation, much to the disappointment of the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition.

Early in 2008 the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund awarded its first round of funding, in which five housing development projects received a total of $1.4 million from the fund.  And there is a plan by the Advisory Board to receive the second round of applications by year’s end.  However, without adequate revenue the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund will not provide the kind of needed impact in the community.