Welcome to our Year of Housing Webpage
Find housing-related resources, data to track City progress in its housing goals, and discover what City government is doing to address the housing crisis.
This page was created in response to the ongoing affordability crisis that our nation faces. In Milwaukee, this issue is felt most acutely with housing affordability. Therefore, I have challenged every City department to evolve to meet this moment.
Building on the momentum from this past year, we changed the ways in which the city funds housing construction to include a broad-spectrum of housing. We are continuing our award-winning partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build homes and revive vacant City lots.
We have accelerated the pace of new construction through faster housing permitting. We have improved the safety of homes through lead abatement. We have built a citywide approach to prioritize housing affordability for everyone, and I am proud of our efforts to date.
But it has not been enough. The cost of housing remains too high for our residents and we will need to overcome challenging economic headwinds in the coming years. That is why I have declared 2026 to be the Year of Housing!
What that means for you:
- A commitment to transparent data to show our progress on housing construction, affordability measures and housing safety precautions.
- Providing a venue to learn more about City programs and policies that can help YOU.
- Informational videos about what we’re doing, who the key players are, and why this work is so important.
- A concerted effort to expand our programming to build more homes, create access to housing units, and ensure safety at home no matter where you live.
Please explore this page and reach out to my office with your housing ideas and concerns. We’re happy to listen.
– Mayor Cavalier Johnson
Permit and Development Dashboard
In the News
Arch Solar installs 191-kW array for new Milwaukee affordable housing and library complex
Leaders Celebrate Opening of Wisconsin’s Largest Private Affordable Housing Complex
The state’s largest affordable housing development opened Thursday
Milwaukee officials hope new affordable housing development will help address housing crisis
Ribbon cutting marks the opening of another apartment development in Harambee neighborhood
LaMarr Franklin Lofts Open, With A Waiting List
BUILDING BLOCKS: Milwaukee’s LaMarr Franklin Lofts on the rise
The Corliss Opens in Bayview
The Corliss is a special transformation of the old Filer & Stowell factory complex. A space that once powered the City of Milwaukee's industrial past will now serve as a new community of 576 mixed-income houses for families and seniors.
The City invested more than $11 million, including a $9.2 million TIF, support from our Housing Trust Fund, and a RACM brownfield loan, to help make this vision possible. Rents are targeted to households between 40% and 80% of the area median income. Two buildings dedicated specifically to senior residents also meet a growing need for senior housing in the area.
This project supported over 700 construction jobs, including strong requirements for hiring unemployed and underemployed Milwaukee residents, as well as significant participation from small business enterprises.
Harambee Homeownership Initiative
The Harambee Homeownership Initiative highlights work on the city’s north side. The City of Milwaukee, in coordination with the Community Development Alliance, created Tax Incremental District 124 to provide $2.85 million to create new housing at affordable rates. The plan includes Envision Growth building eight homes for early childhood education workers and Habitat for Humanity to build 51 single-family homes.
This is the second backbone TIF district advanced by the City. The first backbone TID funded 74 homes in the Midtown neighborhood.
Ribbon-Cutting in Harambee
In early October, Mayor Cavalier Johnson led the grand opening ribbon cutting for the LaMarr Franklin Lofts Apartments at 3317 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in the Harambee neighborhood. The housing development from KG Development and the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation has a total of 55 units, 46 of which are designated affordable housing with rent starting as low as $469 per month.
LaMarr Franklin Lofts in Harambee
The City of Milwaukee sold five parcels to create the site and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee provided a brownfield cleanup loan. The Department of Administration, CDGA provided project gap financing assistance with State of Wisconsin ARPA funding as well as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME funding. Tax Incremental District 114 provided $737,000 in gap financing.
Affordable Housing Tour
The Community Development Grants Administration went on an early construction walk-through with project partners for the Phoenix Residential Apartments adaptive reuse and affordable housing development at 2436 N. 50th St.
The “first of its kind” development in Wisconsin will combine 21 permanent affordable housing units with 10 short-term crisis units for individuals transitioning from homelessness. Services and resources for mental health and housing education will be available to residents, with construction on the historically designated building aiming for completion in 2026.
Adopt-A-Neighborhood: Arlington Heights 2025
Mayor Cavalier Johnson proudly announced Arlington Heights as the focus of the 2025 Adopt-A-Neighborhood initiative.
Building on the success in Silver City for 2024, this 12-week revitalization effort brings together city departments, local organizations, and residents to create a cleaner, safer, and more connected community.
Together, we’re building a safer, stronger, and more vibrant Arlington Heights—one block at a time.
City of Milwaukee Programs
Buy or Build Housing
City Real Estate For Sale
Fully rehabilitated homes, buildings, vacant lots, and commercial properties
Homebuyer Assistance Forgivable Loan
Forgivable loans up to $35,000 for the rehab of City-owned homes
Homes MKE
Fully renovated homes for sale
Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance
Forgivable grants of up to $7,000 to help you purchase your home
Update Existing Home
Compliance Loan Program (CLP)
Fix code violations with 0% interest, deferred payment loans
Homebuyer Assistance Forgivable Loan
Forgivable loans up to $35,000 for the rehab of City-owned homes
Milwaukee Shines Solar Program
Low interest loans to install solar energy as a clean and affordable energy source
Milwaukee Energy Efficiency Program | Me2
Low interest loans help pay for home upgrades as you save on your energy bill
STRONG Homes Loan Program
Partially forgivable loans up to $25,000 for emergency & essential repairs
Targeted Investment Neighborhoods (TINs)
No interest and partially forgivable loans for home improvements
Tax Incremental District (TIDs)
Forgivable loans to assist owner-occupants with repairs
Neighborhood Resources
ECO Neighborhoods Initiative
Transform your community into a beautiful, environmentally-friendly neighborhood
Community Improvement Projects (CIP)
Matching grants up to $4,000 for projects that engage residents and beautify neighborhoods
Healing Spaces Initiative
Helps residents create relaxing, natural environments on city-owned vacant lots
Milwaukee Neighborhood Living
Get involved by joining your local neighborhood group or association
Home Improvement Resource Navigator
The City of Milwaukee offers a variety of resources and incentive programs to help residents with housing improvements. Use this tool to filter by location, service, or income to find housing that meets your needs.
"I went to six different elementary schools because we moved around so much," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. "The more we are able to make it, so kids don't have that experience, where our neighborhoods are stable, that is how you build a stronger city."
Community Development Block Grant
Learn more about the impact of CDGA in partnership with our 60+ community partners in the areas of Affordable Housing and Special Economic Development. These collaborations illustrate how collective efforts are driving meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)
In partnership with Community Advocates, the City of Milwaukee offers financial assistance to eligible tenants at risk of housing instability due to a temporary financial hardship.
Emergency Rental Assistance Dashboard
The dashboard provides a quantitative overview of the work the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is supporting in addressing housing instability.
Over the past five years alone, CDBG funding has helped provide emergency housing for more than 13,000 Milwaukee residents.