Teig Whaley-Smith, former director of Milwaukee County's department of administrative services, was recently appointed to lead the Milwaukee-based
Community Development Alliance.
CDA
launched last year as a collaboration of funders and nonprofits dedicated to increasing access to affordable housing in the city. As chief alliance executive, Whaley-Smith will lead efforts to continue to build capacity and strategy in Milwaukee’s affordable housing sector, according to an announcement from the organization.
“The CDA’s collaboration with residents, practitioners, and funders will help write a new chapter in Milwaukee’s housing history – a chapter where we advance racial equity by providing a quality, affordable home for every Milwaukeean,” Whaley-Smith said.
As director of the department of administrative services under former county executive Chris Abele, Whaley-Smith managed a $1.2 billion annual budget and was involved in efforts to expand mental health services, decrease chronic homelessness, and develop a strategic plan to combat racism. Prior to that role, he was the economic development director for the county and led the efforts to develop the former Park East corridor.
Whaley-Smith also previously ran Community Development Advocates and was the executive director of the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District.
CDA’s members include Bader Philanthropies, Children’s of Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee, Greater Milwaukee Committee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, LISC Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Children’s of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and Zilber Family Foundation. Its executive committee includes resident liaisons from Metcalfe Community Bridges and Southside Organizing Center.
The CDA recently released its Collective Affordable Housing Plan, which identifies a need in the city for an additional 32,000 Black and Latino homeowners and 32,000 more rental units for families making less than $15 per hour.
The most recent U.S. Census data indicates 27% of Black households in Milwaukee own their homes, compared with 37.5% of Hispanic households and 55.8% of white households. The city’s overall homeownership rate fell over the past 15 years from 50% to 40%.
The development of CDA's plan was supported by a $150,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Wealth Opportunities Restored through Homeownership (WORTH) BIPOC Homeownership Initiative. CDA is one of 15 cities now competing for an additional $7 million WORTH grant to implement its plan.
Several agencies have already won additional funding to support CDA’s housing plan. In total, housing agencies in Milwaukee recently received more than $10 million in Equitable Recovery Funds from the state. Additionally, Milwaukee County received $6.5 million from the state's Neighborhood Investment Fund for the development of single-family homes and duplexes for homeownership in Milwaukee.
“Housing is one of the main social determinants of health, which is why it is critically important to invest in affordable housing in communities that have been historically underserved, and also adversely impacted by the pandemic,” said Milwaukee County executive David Crowley. “The CDA provides the county, city and state, as well as philanthropic and private partners, the ideal vehicle for collaboration and innovation in building affordable housing solutions.”
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