Acts’ Families
The families Acts has helped achieve home ownership have amazing stories! You may read some of them here.
Purchasing a home is no simple feat, even for families with greater financial resources. For large families with no home ownership history and limited financial means, home ownership can seem like an elusive dream.
Through an array of services, Acts annually assists 100 modest income families to become new homeowners in Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods. The families we serve are racially and ethnically diverse. Some have lived in Milwaukee all their lives, some come from other countries.
We invite you to meet some of the families we have assisted in making the dream of home ownership a reality.
Our Families' Stories
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…
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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…
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…
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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…
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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…
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.…
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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…
The Trinidad Family’s Big Relief
James Trinidad’s main objective was to find a safe environment for him and his family when searching for his perfect home. Thankfully, with Acts’ support,…
Christina and Her Boys’ Dream Come True!
Christina Patterson and her two boys were living in a shelter just a few years ago. Through Christina’s incredible courage and determination, and with support…
Small Family, Big Investment: Israel and Odilia’s Home
The cost of rent made Israel and Odilia want to become homeowners. They were paying $875 a month in rent. Today, they pay $200 less…
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Phoebe’s Dream Come True
Purchasing a home is a dream come true for Phoebe, her husband Allen and their family. She rented her home for 15 years before, due…
A Woman on a Mission
Esperanza is a mother of three children aged 14, 13, and 5. She is also mother to Chapo and Knighty, her teacup Yorkie and kitten.…
Brandy Takes A Step
Brandy Cotton, 36, describes her ideal home as having four bedrooms, a nice yard, and a driveway. She currently rents, but is closer to purchase by going through ACTS’ Homebuyer Counseling and working closely with her counselor Leslie Buck.
Dedicated and On Display: Horacio’s Home
Upon meeting Horacio, it’s evident he’s proud of his home. He frequently displays the home’s progress on his Snapchat.
Johnnie: Monthly Payment to Paid Off
Johnnie Ashley couldn’t believe her ears when she was told she was done paying off her home rehab loan.
James Seizes Opportunity
2018 ACTS Housing Homeowner of the Year Recipient James Reynolds received one of our first-ever Homeowner of the Year awards at our Longest Neighborhood Table…
Angel’s Progress
Angel, 37, was the first Acts homebuyer to receive a microloan amount higher than $25,000 for his home rehab project.
Rebecca Takes a Chance
Rebecca Johnson says she hasn’t always had the best luck. She would enter drawings for raffle prizes and would come away with no prizes. “I…
Bruce Knows Best
In August 2018, Bruce heard about ACTS Housing and called about next steps. “I decided I would attend orientation and see what happens,” he said.…
Trudy’s Commitment
Once a homebuyer attends an ACTS orientation and pays for their credit pull; they meet with ACTS’ counseling department to assess heir financial fitness for homeownership.
Leaving a Legacy: The Jacksons
Pictured: Rayford and Monica Jackson with their two children and family members, surrounded by the ACTS team and Mayor Tom Barrett. Featured image courtesy of the…
All Hands on Deck with the Correa Family
2018 ACTS Homeowner of the Year The Correa family took on the rehab of their home on Milwaukee’s South Side with optimism, according to their…
More Opportunity for Families
Angel purchased his first home earlier this month in the Franklin Heights neighborhood. His home sale also marked a first for ACTS. ACTS Lending, the…
Bring Us Home: A Celebration!
Since 2017, Acts Housing’s community partners and supporters have raised more than $2.1 million though a capital campaign. With a theme of Bring Us Home,…
Family Pride: The Castro Family
Ricardo and Eneidia Castro purchased their three-bedroom, $3,500 city-tax foreclosure, on Dec. 18. When you walk into the Castro home, nestled comfortably on Milwaukee’s South…
Mary Fullilove
For two decades, Mary Fullilove spent a great deal of time and energy moving her family from one temporary residence to another. Then she was introduced to ACTS Housing and her living situation — and her life — were transformed. Now, she is the proud owner of a house on North 40th Street.
Christian & Lorena
Christian and Lorena beamed with pride as ACTS’ Community Broker Mary handed them a welcome mat for their new home. “We’re very thankful to Mary,…
Marianne’s Cozy Home
Marianne’s home, on Milwaukee’s West Side, feels like anything but a previous foreclosure. One could easily enjoy the four seasons there. The living room is…
A Space Of Their Own: Eleodoro and Sofia
Eleodoro and his wife Sofia found out about ACTS Housing through a friend. “If it was good for them, it would be good for us,”…
Will: Student Homeowner
When Will was accepted to study postgraduate Counseling Psychology at UWM, he had one big question: “Can I afford to live there?” Growing up in…
A Dream Achieved: Stephanie Osuji
Stephanie Osuji is looking forward to enjoying the fruits of her labor. The first thing she’d like to do in her new home is host…
Acts Family Spotlight: The Fergusons
Once you meet Nellie Ferguson you won’t easily forget her or her family. Through the sounds of laughter when talking to her, comes the love…
