Acts Housing Blog
We were born for this: Acts Homeownership Acquisition Fund
Acts Housing has launched a new social enterprise to outcompete predatory investors and increase housing inventory for owner occupancy. Milwaukee is losing 1,000 homeowners of Color every year, a pace that has persisted over the past decade. Families of low-to-moderate income (LMI) are increasingly rent-burdened and forced to make impossible tradeoffs that limit their ability…
Continue Reading We were born for this: Acts Homeownership Acquisition Fund
Is A Market-Based Affordable Housing Solution Possible?
Thanks to an invitation from CivicCon and the Pensacola News Journal, Acts’ President & CEO Michael Gosman recently had the opportunity to share Acts Housing’s secret recipe with citizens, policy-makers, and community-builders in Florida. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD7z5Hc2GOw To watch the full presentation, click the link below, and skip ahead 15 minutes: (Skip ahead approximately 15 minutes into…
Continue Reading Is A Market-Based Affordable Housing Solution Possible?
The Johnson Family: North of North Avenue
Sleepovers; it’s probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking about homeownership, but it’s one of the things that Rae Johnson and their son are most excited about in their new home. Growing up on Milwaukee’s Northside, but attending school in Menomonee Falls, Rae realized that school friends never came over…
Giving First Day
Do you love the rush of clicking that ‘Add To Cart’ button online? Anxiously awaiting your brown box packages to be delivered to your house. Showing off your new flat screen tv with the cool new feature you’ll stop caring about in 2 months because, to be honest, you spend most of your free time…
The Acts Impact – What does your gift do?
Vision so big it makes your stomach hurt Our financial goal for the Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition is to raise $450,000 – our largest target yet. Acts Homebuyer Program Manager Dee often says, “there’s so much vision on this team it makes my stomach hurt!” We think that’s a good thing, and hope…
Making the Impossible Possible
The Hernandez Family Story At the core of everything Acts does are the families we serve. Each family’s story is different, and all month long as we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table 2021, we’re sharing some of our biggest family success stories. https://youtu.be/1vGXrzWQezM The Bait and Switch Maria and Angel Hernandez spent 8 years trying to…
Required Listening: By Every Measure (Housing Episode)
By Every Measure Last year, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee launched the fantastic, award-winning podcast series, By Every Measure. Co-hosted by data expert & research journalist Reggie Jackson and Radio Milwaukee’s Director of Digital Strategy & Innovation Tarik Moody, each episode focuses on systemic racism in a different sector of Milwaukee (health, education, etc.), using data to…
Continue Reading Required Listening: By Every Measure (Housing Episode)
Leading by Example: The Alexander Family
What Happens When The Home You Rent Goes Into Foreclosure? At the core of everything Acts does are the families we serve. Each family’s story is different, and all month long as we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table 2021, we’re sharing some inspiring, true stories of homeownership! Allow us to introduce you to the 2020 Acts…
Homeownership is Music to Our Ears!
The Homeownership Journey in Song Our goal for Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition was to tell the Acts story as many ways as possible, to connect with as many people as possible. For those who connect to the world through music…today is your day. Over the last year the Acts team has gone digital.…
Building Family Wealth Through Homeownership
Generational Wealth Did you know? The average homeowner has 40 times the household wealth of a renter. Wealth created by homeownership is the single biggest contributor to an increase in net worth across all income groups. And let’s be clear: When we say “wealth,” we aren’t talking about making millionaires or billionaires. We’re simply talking…
Continue Reading Building Family Wealth Through Homeownership
Reviving Milwaukee’s Near West Side
Reclaiming Neighborhoods One House at a Time At the core of the work are the families we serve. Each family’s story is different, and all month long as we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table 2021, we’re sharing stories of strong, resilient, empowered families. How do you reclaim a property that’s become a burden for an entire…
The Trinidad Family’s Pre-Christmas Miracle
Building Their Own Space https://youtu.be/2Z8Gzfz7O_M At the core of the work are the families we serve. Each family’s story is different, and all month long as we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table 2021, we’re sharing stories of strong, resilient, empowered families. For many new homeowners, any work that’s done to restore or update their home is…
Continue Reading The Trinidad Family’s Pre-Christmas Miracle
Evicted Book Give-Away
Evicted Book Give-Away In what has become required reading around here, the critically acclaimed and award-winning Evicted “follows eight families in Milwaukee as they each struggle to keep a roof over their heads,” giving us a greater understanding of poverty, providing ideas for solutions, and reminding us how crucial “home” can be to every other…
The Truth + Acts Housing = Closing the Black Homeownership Gap
Act Right Listen to Dee on MKE In The Morning Behind Acts Homeowners are an incredible team – professionals who care deeply about the families, neighborhoods, and cities they serve. As we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table 2021, we don’t want you to miss the flavor of the team behind the curtain. Dee Kemp joined the…
Continue Reading The Truth + Acts Housing = Closing the Black Homeownership Gap
Generational Impact – The Ferguson Family Story
Generational Impact At the core of everything, Acts is all about the families we serve. Each family’s story is different, and all month long as we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table 2021, we’re sharing some of our favorite stories of strength and empowerment. The Ferguson family isn’t just one of our oldest success stories. (They purchased…
Continue Reading Generational Impact – The Ferguson Family Story
Milwaukee’s Black Homeownership Gap
Closing the Black Homeownership Gap Did you know: Milwaukee has the second-largest homeownership gap between Black families and White families in the nation? The current 43% difference is larger than it was in 1968, when housing discrimination was legal. And while housing discrimination is technically no longer legal, unfair policies and outright discrimination in the…
Homeowners = Engaged Citizens
Homeowners = Engaged Citizens Something we’ve learned in our 25+ years helping families become homeowners: Empowerment through Homeownership leads to engaged citizens. Statistics show that compared to renters, homeowners are more likely to participate in community organizations, and nearly ¾ of homeowners report voting in local elections compared to only ½ of renters. Home isn’t…
An overheard conversation led Margarita Chavez to Acts Housing
Learn more about Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition and donate today! https://youtu.be/qAr5NYe7FCs Margarita Chavez and her family made their dream a reality At the core of everything Acts does are the families we serve. Each family’s story is different, and all month long as we celebrate Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition, we’ll share…
Continue Reading An overheard conversation led Margarita Chavez to Acts Housing
What’s the difference between “Where do you live?” and “Where do you stay?”
https://youtu.be/1KBBKiOYp1o We Are the Champions Gwyn and John Beagle have become passionate Acts Housing champions over the last five years. Their primary volunteer and philanthropic attention is focused on organizations that further education and anti-poverty goals, which makes a lot of sense considering their own backgrounds: John is an engineer-turned-co-founder-and-CEO of Investment Bank Grace Matthews,…
Continue Reading What’s the difference between “Where do you live?” and “Where do you stay?”
Teamwork made the Dream Work for the Dismukes Family
https://youtu.be/t5YOfBMF5fM Teamwork made the Dream Work for the Dismukes Family When Yuselff and Nakeita Dismukes decided they needed to find a home for their growing family, they turned to Acts Housing. And like so many Acts families, the Dismukes were more than willing to do the hard work that the homebuying process requires. Step 1:…
Continue Reading Teamwork made the Dream Work for the Dismukes Family
Welcome to the Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition
https://youtu.be/LCaZyJKytMI Welcome to the Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition As upside-down as almost every aspect of 2020 was, your belief in Acts Housing never waivered. You transformed Acts’ long-running Longest Neighborhood Table event by bringing it into your own homes and hosting intimate events, both in-person and virtually, for your closest friends and family.…
Continue Reading Welcome to the Longest Neighborhood Table – Impact Edition
Vel R. Phillips- An Extraordinary Life and Legacy
As we kick-off Women’s History Month, Acts Housing celebrates and recognizes Vel R. Phillips, considered a “leader of leaders”, a true champion and advocate for the citizens of Milwaukee. phillips during her early and mid-career years. Including her years as a law student at uw-madison, and as the first female judge in milwaukee. Velvalea Hortense…
Continue Reading Vel R. Phillips- An Extraordinary Life and Legacy
On the first night of Hannukkah…
The Acts Housing team came together (via Zoom…it is 2020 after all) for our annual holiday celebration. There were gifts. There was a gingerbread house contest made possible by Community Action’s Gingerbread Extravaganza. There were the first-annual Acts-y Awards. We were honored to sponsor Community Action of Rock County’s Gingerbread Extravaganza this year, and our…
The Dismukes Family – A Big Surprise For These Four Kids!
You can tell that Yuselff and Nakeita Dismukes are proud homeowners before you even walk into the house. From the seasonal décor on the porch and front door to the tidy lawn and beautiful stone façade, you’d probably be surprised to learn that this home was a foreclosed property that sat vacant for over a…
Continue Reading The Dismukes Family – A Big Surprise For These Four Kids!
Bank Five Nine- Serving the needs of the Unbanked and Underbanked
We are a proud partner of Bank On of Greater Milwaukee. The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services, and bank accounts that allow them to build savings and access credit over time. Did you know that 22% of American adults (63 million)…
Continue Reading Bank Five Nine- Serving the needs of the Unbanked and Underbanked
Antonia’s Journey, A Place to Call her Own
Antonia had always wanted her own place to call home. When her daughter told her about a new non-profit in Beloit that helped people become homeowners, she knew this was her chance! She called the same day! Antonia is a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. Family means everything to her. She has spent the…
The Trinidad Family- Baby Magdalena’s First Christmas!
When Ana Trinidad became pregnant with her fourth child, is when her and her husband Jose, began their rehab project with Acts. Understandably, she was nervous about the timing of taking on such a large project. But she thought, “We’ve wanted this for so long. We just have to go for it. And I’m so…
Continue Reading The Trinidad Family- Baby Magdalena’s First Christmas!
The Hernandez Family- Revitalizing Neighborhoods, One House at a Time.
Maria always wanted a big, spacious sun-filled kitchen. She knew she wanted it painted yellow with lots of plants in the window sills to remind her of her native country of Honduras. Her dream kitchen has come true! Maria and Angel had completely given up on buying a home. They had spent the last 8…
Continue Reading The Hernandez Family- Revitalizing Neighborhoods, One House at a Time.
The Ordonez Family- A Mom and Her Boys!
After 17 years of dreaming of owning a home of her own, Yadira Ordoñez almost gave up. Until her brother became an Acts homeowner himself and encouraged her to follow his footsteps. At first, she was nervous and apprehensive. She still felt that it was too good to be true. But today, with tears in…
The Chavez Family- From a Dream to Reality!
After 7 years of living in the same cramped duplex apartment, Margarita and Alfonso Chavez decided to take a leap of faith and became homeowners. Something they never thought possible! A hairdresser by trade, Margarita works at a small hair salon on Milwaukee’s Southside. She noticed a man coming to talk to her boss, about…
Continue Reading The Chavez Family- From a Dream to Reality!
Longest Neighborhood Table – Catering Options
We’re getting excited for this year’s Longest Neighborhood Table – Home Edition! With over 60 households already committed, and more joining every day, September 12, 2020 is going to be quite the night for Acts’ friends and supporters. (Psst…if you haven’t already, you can register here!) One of the fun parts of Home Edition is…
Continue Reading Longest Neighborhood Table – Catering Options
2020 Homebuyer Grant Opportunities
We have many grant options available to you. By completing the Homebuyer Counseling, either one-one-one or through our online program, you may qualify for funding for your downpayment or rehab project. Affordable Housing Program (AHP): This assistance provides down payment/closing cost funds to home buyers in the City or County of Milwaukee. Funds are forgivable…
Acts Resource List
Furniture Donations If you would to donate furniture to Wooden changing table ASSORTED WOODEN CHAIRS GLASS TABLE TOP (no base) twin bed frame microwave CHildren’s high chair Mortgage Payment Assistance If you have experienced any kind of financial hardship due to COVID-19, you may be able to postpone payments for up to 180 days. Many…
Candida’s New Neighborhood
Candida Cuevas loves her rowdy home. With six kids, fifteen grandkids, and one more on the way, family gatherings are loud, crowded, and full of love. In her old neighborhood, these events caused problems; there wasn’t enough room in her trailer for everyone, parking was a challenge, and neighbors would complain about the noise. This…
Beloit Financial Institutions Lend $1M to Support Homeownership
Beloit area financial institutions are stepping up to support homeownership in a big way. With First National Bank and Trust as the lead, six area financial institutions have created a $1 million credit facility that will allow Acts Lending to finance the purchase and rehab of distressed homes for families with barriers to homeownership. Acts…
Continue Reading Beloit Financial Institutions Lend $1M to Support Homeownership
Pizza with a Purpose
Max Welsh always loved making pizza. Recently, he became enamored of the work of Acts Housing. Soon after, a wood fired lightbulb went off in his head. What if he could take his passion for pizza and connect it to Acts? This summer, that’s just what he did. Slinging wood fired pizza cooked in a…
‘Locked Out’ Discussion on Black Homeownership Draws Crowd
On February 26, about sixty people joined ACTS Housing as it hosted its panel discussion “Locked Out: Solutions to the Black Homeownership Decline” at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center. Panelists for the evening were: Adam Carr, Deputy Editor for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service; Bill Tisdale, President & CEO for the Metropolitan…
Continue Reading ‘Locked Out’ Discussion on Black Homeownership Draws Crowd
Deon Delivers For Families
Deon Price says he plans to stay at ACTS until it no longer exists or he passes away—either way he’s in it for the long haul. Having grown up in East St. Louis, Ill., he said he knows first-hand the effects of disinvestment on a community. “The community I grew up in is no longer…
