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 neighborhood? In the case of one particular home on Milwaukee’s West Side, you start by helping one family change their less-than-ideal rental situation.
That’s how Alderman Bob Bauman helped restore the health of one West Side neighborhood. A recently foreclosed home had become a detriment to the rest of the community. Irresponsible tenants and a lack of proper upkeep had turned it into an eyesore. To solve this problem, the Alderman reached out to Acts Housing to see if they could find a homeowner who would move into the home and give it the TLC it so desperately needed.
The Right Buyer + A Home With Lots of Potential = An Acts Win
The Acts team knew right away that Marianne Peterson was the perfect fit—a food service worker who felt restricted by renting and wanted the stability and security of a space of her own. Acts provided Marianne the guidance she needed every step of the way through the homebuying process.
Once it was in her hands, Marianne invested nearly $25,000 in home-rehab costs to bring her stunning new home back to its original beauty, and breathe new life into the frustrated neighborhood.
https://actshousing.org/donate/Help more families reclaim distressed properties and neighborhoods. Contribute to Longest Neighborhood Table today!
