City to use $15M in ARPA funds to flip city-owned homes at an affordable price

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Wednesday, Jan. 10, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and other Milwaukee Common Council members gathered outside of a home near N. 13th Street to unveil their latest renovation in their Homes MKE program.

Homes MKE is an initiative that renovates vacant, city-owned properties into high quality, affordable homes and rental opportunities. The city was able to allocate $15 million in Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

It's an effort to bring up property value, help get rid of eyesores and in turn get rid of nefarious activity. The flips will predominantly be on the north side of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele Coggs addressed concerns of potential gentrification.

"DCD (Department of City Development) is supposed to examine and ensure for as much as we can that what we're not doing is causing gentrification that pushes displacement. That was the intention of the entire council when we passed it and there's several other components that the concerns people would have over making investments like this in the neighborhood that we attempted to address from the very beginning-- there's a reason the price is so affordable," said Alderwoman Coggs.

The city is aiming to flip about 150 homes across Milwaukee. So far, six homes have been renovated.