MILWAUKEE – Today, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Housing Services convened local housing leaders, developers, advocates, and community partners at the Marcia P. Coggs Health & Human Services Center for a Fair Housing Month roundtable dedicated to strengthening safe, quality, and affordable housing for all residents.

This gathering marks an important moment for Milwaukee County and a chance to acknowledge meaningful progress while advancing the bold, collaborative work still ahead. Under County Executive Crowley’s leadership, Milwaukee County has taken significant steps to expand housing stability, prevent homelessness, and build a more equitable housing landscape. The roundtable highlighted the successes driving this momentum and fostered candid discussion on remaining opportunities and challenges.

“April is Fair Housing Month, a time to reinforce that access to quality, affordable housing is not just a goal – it is a fundamental foundation for health, stability, and economic mobility,” said County Executive Crowley. “My administration has realized significant progress in developing affordable housing and advancing our work to address homelessness. As we look ahead, collaboration is essential. I’m encouraged by our partnerships with developers, service providers, landlords, residents, and community stakeholders who are all working toward the same goal: safe, affordable, and equitable housing for all residents and families in Milwaukee County.”

The roundtable participants represented every corner of the housing ecosystem, including affordable housing development, minority-owned development, homeownership, senior housing, homelessness prevention, tenant rights, and reentry advocacy.

“We are fortunate to have a strong countywide consortium of partners who are working collaboratively to put fair housing into practice,” said James Mathy, Administrator, DHHS Housing Services. “Milwaukee County is addressing barriers to homeownership for renters in our community, especially for first-time buyers, and what needs to be done to bridge the gap.”

Equity is at the center of Milwaukee County’s housing strategy, ensuring that all residents – especially those historically underserved – have access to safe, stable housing. Since County Executive Crowley was elected, Milwaukee County has committed nearly $50 million toward affordable housing and homeownership efforts that are expanding options for working families. Following the implementation of the County’s Housing First model, Milwaukee County’s homeless population decreased by 75% in under 10 years, saving taxpayers over $30 million in the process. Also, by focusing on landlord engagement, reentry programs, and community development strategies, Milwaukee County DHHS is helping more people access the housing and wraparound services they need.

Roundtable participants included:

  • County Executive David Crowley
  • Connor Goggans, DHHS Housing Services
  • Erika Sanders, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council
  • Colleen Foley, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee
  • Wendy Weckler, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County/Continuum of Care
  • Brian Sonderman, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
  • Teig Whaley-Smith, Community Development Alliance
  • Anthony Kazee, KG Development Group
  • Dan Fleischman, Jewish Family Services
  • Shannon Ross, The Community