Housing access and affordability round table includes Gov. Evers, Mayor Mason, community leaders, residents of Racine

RACINE — Gov. Tony Evers returned to the City of Racine for the second time in March, to show his support towards initiatives happening locally, first it was maternal and infant mortality, and now, housing.

Albert Street home to hit the market soon

The home, which is under construction through the city’s Community Development Authority (CDA), is just one home a part of the city’s efforts to increase homeownership access and affordability for city residents.

The house on Albert Street is being built with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was allocated to the CDA. The hope is for the home to sell for around $160,000.

Investing in Racine

Investing in neighborhood housing is an effort the city is working towards. The goal is to construct new homes on vacant lots and eventually sell the homes to city residents.

“We have 277 families who’ve become homeowners in the last five years, through the programs that they and the city collaborate on. That’s a lot of families that are getting a safe and healthy place to live and beginning to build wealth and the pride that comes with homeownership,” said Mason.

The home is projected to be on the market on April 29.

“We’re trending in the right direction,” said the Mayor.

A community conversation

Programs in progress

Housing Resources Inc. (HRI)

“We’ve already had a footprint in the community and we already are helping people with their homeownership. However, some people can’t see that goal because they have a lot of barriers and a lot of challenges to overcome. And so that’s why it was great for us to partner to launch the Financial Empowerment Center,” said Program Manager Kidd.

Thursday’s discussion looked at the impact beyond the home itself.

“I’m very passionate about homeownership. I’m a third-generation homeowner it is very important to educate families on financial literacy and financial education. We all know that homeownership will flow,
stabilize families, and stabilize communities,” she added.

Gov. Evers touched on the psychological aspect of homeownership as well.

“Homeownership is important not just for the workforce. But it’s a way to self-actualize. It’s important, it makes you feel successful. Because you are,” said the Governor.

Financial Empowerment Center (FEC)

Additionally, the Racine FEC is another free city service that provides residents with personalized, professional financial counseling to prepare for home ownership and other financial goals.

“We are really thrilled to offer this service in partnership with HRI and to have the city say clearly to our residents, ‘we believe in you. We believe in your potential and we think your financial resiliency is just as important as anything else that the city offers,'” Selkowe told Gov. Evers during the discussion.

Evers backs affordable and accessible housing efforts

The topic of housing hits close to home for Gov. Evers, and not just as someone who oversees the state.

During the discussion, he explained one of his daughters experienced challenges with homeownership.

“The first time that she was thinking about getting a house, she knew she couldn’t do it. The City of Madison stepped in. Now just 20 years later, she’s a successful woman and she has a great job. She’s bought and sold several houses a long way, she’s still a homeowner,” Evers said.

Investing in local programs can make a difference, according to local officials.

“It was that spark that she got from the government, of all people, and it helped her along the way to help her be successful,” said Evers about his daughter.

The State budget report can be viewed online here.

“Racine has done an outstanding job utilizing the resources they have to create housing,” said Evers. He continued, “they understand the importance that housing has to the emotional well-being. I know the Mayor will say we’ve got a lot more to do, I understand that, but what a great start.”