Milwaukee County Uses $3 Million to Rehabilitate Hillview Hall for 27 Homeless Individuals
$234 Million Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Allocates $3 Million to Hillview Hall Renovation in Milwaukee County
According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced that state funding will be used to rehabilitate Hillview Hall the county’s first emergency housing building for homeless individuals. This former nursing home located at 1615 S. 22nd Street in the Muskego Way neighborhood was one of 50 projects in Wisconsin to receive a portion of the $234 million from the state’s Neighborhood Investment Fund grant. Hillview Hall received $3 million to hire an architect and renovate the building adding 27 rooms for emergency housing. Crowley who has openly discussed his personal experiences with housing instability praised the state’s support for the project. “This is about ensuring our most vulnerable residents have access to the resources they need. Tackling housing and rehabilitation is crucial and this project is a prime example” he stated. Crowley emphasized that such initiatives are key to making Milwaukee County the healthiest in Wisconsin.
The county’s Department of Health and Human Services led by Shakita LaGrant-McClain is also involved in the project. LaGrant-McClain highlighted the county’s “No Wrong Door” policy which aims to provide behavioral health services with dignity and accessibility. “We meet Americans where they are providing services with respect” she said. Hillview Hall’s second floor currently houses 27 homeless individuals while the first floor hosts the County’s Pathways to Permanent Housing program a food pantry and a harm reduction vending machine offering free Narcan and Fentanyl test strips. Crowley along with state representatives and county officials toured the site to review the progress of the rehabilitation. Michael Basford state director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness commended Milwaukee County‘s approach to tackling homelessness. “Efforts like this are vital as we face a nationwide crisis of increased homelessness especially unsheltered homelessness. Projects like Hillview Hall can significantly stabilize communities and improve lives” Basford said.
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Milwaukee County‘s Strategy to House 27 Homeless Individuals
Furthermore, during the county’s 2024 budget cycle Crowley pledged significant investments in services for the unsheltered population. This includes an additional $1.5 million for the county’s homeless outreach team and the Housing First model which provides housing without requiring prerequisites like counseling. Hillview Hall’s rehabilitation is a significant step in Milwaukee County’s broader strategy to address homelessness and provide vital resources to its most vulnerable residents. This project reflects a collaborative effort between state and county agencies to create lasting solutions for homelessness.