Join the Housing More Milwaukeeans Coalition
The Housing More Milwaukeeans Coalition is a new advocacy coalition coming together to support common-sense municipal legislation that will bring about more attainable housing choices for all Milwaukeeans.
We support building more starter homes, workforce housing, and transit-accessible housing in the right places close to jobs and opportunities. As our first action, we will be asking Milwaukee Common Council members to support the Growing MKE plan that removes barriers to creating more attainable age-friendly housing choices across neighborhoods.
What We Believe
Housing is a basic human need, and everyone should have a safe and affordable place to live
More housing and more neighbors are a benefit, not a cost
A diverse city requires a diversity of housing choices at all price points
The Problem
Milwaukee is facing a shortage of safe and affordable housing across neighborhoods that decreases access to opportunities and contributes to negative health impacts.
“About 70,000 Milwaukee County families earn $15 per hour or less, but the county has just 30,000 rental units considered affordable for them.” - Wisconsin Watch
“While racial gaps in homeownership rates can be found throughout the nation, they are particularly large in Wisconsin. In 2019, the Black-white homeownership gap was 30 percentage points nationally and 47 points in Wisconsin. A key difference is that the homeownership rate for Black households was much higher nationally (42%) than in Wisconsin (25%).” - Wisconsin Policy Forum
“…home prices in the Milwaukee metro have surged 60% since 2018, most of which has come in just the last three years - vastly outpacing record growth in multifamily rents during this time.” - Costar
Rising housing costs are eating up workers’ wages as they spend more and more of their paychecks on mortgage payments and rent
The shortage of housing close to job centers results in loss of economic opportunities, longer commutes, wasted personal time, and more finances spent on transportation
Seniors can’t find quality housing that meets their needs to age in place in their communities
Empty-nesters can’t find housing in their communities to downsize from larger family homes
Young adults can’t move out of their parents’ homes, and delay starting their independent lives
Children are poisoned with lead from paint, pipes, and soil as housing is old, improperly maintained, and unsafe
The Solution
The housing shortage persists in part because of exclusionary zoning and land use rules designed to suppress the construction of less expensive housing types. “Paulsen said the main reason there’s not enough housing and variety of housing in communities across the state is restrictive zoning ordinances. Those could include large lot sizes, parking requirements, or zoning rules that exclude townhomes, duplexes and multifamily rental housing.” - WPR
We are calling on the Milwaukee Common Council to pass legislation that would
Restore ‘Missing Middle’ housing choices by legalizing ADUs, duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings across the city.
Allow more housing near jobs and accessible to transit along commercial corridors.
Reduce barriers to diverse housing styles to allow more ACRE graduates and other emerging developers of color to create housing and build wealth in Milwaukee.
By embracing Growing MKE, we're not just enhancing residents' quality of life; we're igniting economic growth, curbing the environmental impact of transportation and buildings, and making it easier to house any who wants to call Milwaukee home. Moreover, it's a strategic move to bolster the economy and ensure equitable access to housing in neighborhoods brimming with opportunity.
This isn't merely a decision about structures; it's a declaration of commitment to a fairer, more prosperous future for every Milwaukeean, regardless of their background or circumstance.
How Your Organization Can Join
Fill out our short online form to join the coalition, or send an email to carl@1kfriends.org with your organization’s name, logo, and the individual(s) who should be your point of contact.