An expanded program by the Dominican Center is aiming to ease financial burdens for Amani residents while helping preserve the aging housing stock.
With funding from Northwestern Mutual, the program will provide eligible homeowners with gift cards ranging from $100 to $500 to purchase repair materials through Community Warehouse, a nonprofit supplier.
Dominican Center, at 2470 W. Locust St., has served residents of Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood for 30 years.
According to Amanda Clark, housing and outreach manager for the Dominican Center, these efforts are an expansion on previous approaches that offered smaller, less-targeted incentives.
“In the past, we were just giving out $100 gift cards to anyone who showed up,” Clark said. “Now we want to be more intentional, especially with the challenges residents are facing right now.”
Help for critical repairs
The gift cards are designed to support residents on home improvement projects. It covers items like flooring, faucets, sinks and toilets. Larger purchases like cabinets and major appliances are not included.
The program exists to help residents reduce costs by purchasing materials themselves, an important consideration as costs for labor and contractors continue to rise.
“It’s hard out here right now,” Clark said. “If your toilet breaks and you can fix it yourself, that’s money saved. We’re just trying to lift the burden of homeownership.”
Applicants must provide proof of ownership and identification, and complete a short application describing their repair needs. While the program is primarily for homeowners, Clark said there is some flexibility for small-scale landlords or even renters making repairs, depending on individual circumstances.
“Really, just call or email me,” she said. “Or come in so we can talk about it.”
Preserving Amani’s housing stock
The initiative is part of a broader housing strategy focused not only on building new affordable housing but also on preserving existing homes and helping long-term residents remain in the neighborhood.
According to the latest Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods Coalition report, about 19% of homes in the neighborhood are owner-occupied, while 66% are owned by investors and 15% by the City of Milwaukee.
Britney Roberson, executive director of the Dominican Center, said homeownership remains an important part of the community’s identity.
“People say nobody wants to live here, but that’s not true,” she said. “We’ve got residents who’ve been here for 50 years, who raised their kids and grandkids here.”
Clark and Roberson also noted that many residents would prefer to purchase and improve their current homes rather than move into new construction.
“Not everybody wants a brand-new build,” Clark said. “Some people want the space and character of older homes.”
Community Warehouse partnership
Gift card recipients can go to the Community Warehouse, which offers discounted building materials, to buy what they need or place special orders for certain items.
“It’s like our version of Home Depot or Lowe’s,” Roberson said. “But it’s local and it’s supporting people in our community.”
The program launched on April 11.
Dominican Center staff are hopeful that tracking repairs will help advocate for additional funding and expanded services in the future.
They also encourage residents to spread the work and look out for one another.
“People are struggling in ways you might not see,” Clark said. “Someone right next door to you might need help and you might be the person who can point them to it.”
For more information
Clark can be reached at 414-261-8696 ext. 106 or amanda@dominican-center.org.
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