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 has taken recent steps to persuade the mayor to set aside one million dollars in the budget for the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund.  On June 18, 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).  Staggered cheers and cascading banners billowed from City Hall, representing Milwaukee’s need for not only new affordable housing, but also new jobs and renewed economic vitality, working together and only as a tri-union.  Look for more action in the City of Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition will persist in their pursuit for more dollars in the 2009 Budget.

In addition to the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund Coalition, the Waukesha HTF effort is also busily moving forward.  Recently the group named themselves the ‘Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force’.  Focused on two areas, the Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force has formulated ways in which to create public awareness in Waukesha County, as well as gather relevant information.  In addition to these two tasks, the Waukesha group is also working hard on drafting a proposal that will be unveiled at an upcoming fall event. (See the Brochure)

For more information, contact Heather Dummer Combs at 414-276-9050 or heatherdc@interfaithconference.org

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.

Housing Trust Fund Video

The Housing Trust Fund Video is available for viewing.  There are two ways to watch this 7-minute video about the needs for and benefits of a Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund. 

The YMCA-CDC has been kind enough to post the video on their website. Click here to view it (must have Windows Media Player)

Interfaith Conference is has DVDs of the video available to groups free of charge.  If you would like a copy, please contact us at 414-276-9050.