In 2015, Tiffany Miller moved into her home on the Near West Side as a tenant. A year later, she received a letter from the city saying the home was going into foreclosure.
But with the help of Acts Housing, Miller was able to avoid being displaced and became the owner of her home.
“Prior to this experience, I hadn’t really thought about being a homeowner,” Miller said. “But they helped me get things like my credit together and worked to keep the home off market until I was able to purchase it.”
The group has been helping Milwaukee residents like Miller access homeownership for the last 30 years and continues to expand its capacity.
Seeing a need
Cristina Crogan, vice president of philanthropy for Acts Housing, said the group was founded at St. Michael’s Church by Father Dennis J. Lewis to provide safe housing for refugees.
Over the years, staff saw the need for homeownership opportunities on a greater scale and pivoted to serve neighborhoods across Milwaukee with homebuyer education and support.
Since its conception, more than 4,000 families have purchased homes through Acts Housing.
And according to its Alumni impact report, 70% of them still own their original home. Almost all of those (90%) remain owner-occupiers.
Acts’ annual report said 2024 was one of the most challenging years in its history. In 2024, the Acts team helped 310 families purchase homes and provided financial education to 2,320 families.
Currently, the group assists 2,000 families annually with homebuyer education and coaching, Crogan said.
Acts has lent $8 million for mortgages and rehab, with only $80,000 written off, Crogan said.
New programming
In 2022, Acts launched its Homeowner Acquisition Fund.
The fund is used to purchase Milwaukee homes and resell them at affordable prices to residents.
In a 2022 NNS article, Dorothy York, former vice president of real estate for Acts, said the fund would give clients a shot at a new home without having to compete with investors who can pay more to purchase properties.
“Access to inventory has been a roadblock,” York said. “The Homeowner Acquisition Fund will make homes available and create more homeowners in general.”
The organization, which is primarily funded by private philanthropic support and earned income, aims to create 100 affordable homes annually, priced between $150,000 and $175,000.
Acts also partners with other organizations like the Community Development Alliance and Habitat for Humanity to expand access to housing.
What’s next
Crogan said the group will be rehabbing homes in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood soon.
In celebration of its 30 years, Acts Housing is running an Opening Doors Campaign, asking for philanthropic support to help people access and maintain home ownership.
You can follow the group’s LinkedIn account and stay up to date on its website.
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