TRM Member Update

Lending Information Exchange

Thursday, March 9 | 9:00-10:30am | St. Francis Parish Hall | 1927 N Vel R. Phillips Ave.

Save the Date and Register Today!

Take Root Milwaukee is excited to host a Lending Information Exchange: a space for conversations between housing practitioners, mortgage lenders, and Realtors. We are in hopes that this will provide an opportunity for members to learn a bit about each other (programs & needs), and start conversations that could lead to further partnerships. Please take a moment to complete the registration form. We hope to see you there!

Training Scholarships Available to TRM nonprofit members!
We have training scholarship funds available to TRM nonprofit members. Scholarships are to be used towards training courses (travel expenses included), particularly for those seeking certifications for HUD-approved counseling. The funds are available as a cost reimbursement after the training is complete. Applications are to be submitted prior to the training and approved by the Resource & Oversight Committee. Receipts are then submitted post-training for reimbursement. Here is the application and guidelines.

Workgroups
Join the exciting work being done! Take Root Milwaukee workgroups have been reformed to better align with the priorities that came out of our Strategic Direction. Each set a standing meeting schedule and developed activities to work on in 2023. Here is a flyer with these details. If you have not yet signed up to be part of one of these workgroups and would like to, please contact heather@uedawi.org.

Welcome New Member:
Lamar Lampkins, EXIT Realty Horizons

Thank you to these renewing members!
May Vang, Premier Point Realty
Omar Ortiz, Flamboyant Real Estate Group
Housing Resources, Inc.
Johnson Bank
Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council
Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development

The Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods (RON) coalition seeks new neighborhood agencies to expand the reach of housing surveys in Milwaukee's neighborhoods. Participating community agencies are expected to receive a base grant, and additional funds related to the number of parcel surveys completed. The application process is simple, requiring a one to two page response to questions in the RFP attached. PLEASE REPLY BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15th to be considered for 2023.

Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT) Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for February 28 at 6:00pm via Zoom. Join the MCLT for its annual membership meeting to approve new board members and receive an update on progress toward goals. Please note the MCLT membership runs on a calendar year, and all members must sign up or re-new membership as of January 1, 2023 to attend and vote. RSVP HERE

Sherman Park Community Association is hosting their Annual Housing Resource Fair on Saturday, March 25th from 9:00am to 12:00 noon at Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd. Stay tuned for more information or contact Sherman Park Community Association at (414) 444-9803 or info@shermanpark.org.

35 Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity homes to receive solar power
Solar power wasn't on Toni Smith's mind when she got the keys to her new home on Milwaukee's north side…. Smith, who works for the city of Milwaukee and lives with her two adult children, is one of 35 new homeowners in Milwaukee's Harambee and Midtown neighborhoods who are joining the solar wave at no additional cost through a partnership of Habitat for Humanity, Focus on Energy and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Read the MJS article here (subscription required).

SDC’s new research arm focuses on poverty and racism
The Social Development Commission, or SDC, has started working to restructure itself. The first step in the organization’s restructuring is taking a new approach to its research arm with the formation of Institute on Poverty & Systemic Racism. Read more here.

Two more articles on out of state investors, its impact on Milwaukee and what organizations like Acts Housing are doing about the issue:
Labor shortage, outside investors strain affordable housing efforts in Milwaukee
Out-of-state landlords are increasingly buying up property in Milwaukee. Here’s what that means for our neighborhoods.

Home Weatherization Programs that Reduce Heating Bills and Meet Climate Targets
As the weather turns colder for many across the country, heating bills rise. Coupled with higher energy costs in many regions, residents may be looking for ways to decrease their monthly bills. One way is through home weatherization… Click HERE to read the article from National League of Cities.

Milwaukee County residents could see $153M in medical debt erased under new partnership
Roughly 67,000 Milwaukee County residents could soon receive a letter in the mail informing them all their crippling medical debts have been wiped away.  Click HERE to read the Journal Sentinel article.

Governor’s Health Equity Council pushes for land trusts, other housing strategies in its new report
Housing is mentioned nearly 50 times in the Governor’s Health Equity Council report of 2022…. Council members identified housing as an integral social determinant of health and suggested multiple housing strategies, including increasing support to homeownership programs, encouraging the creation of more community land trusts and adding a housing benefit to Medicaid.  Click HERE to read the Journal Sentinel article.

2023 Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge Application is Open
The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge led by Enterprise with generous support from the Wells Fargo Foundation invites innovators to compete for grants of up to $3 million and technical assistance to develop and scale their implementation-ready solutions.  Click HERE for more information.