[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 116 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE

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                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2019

  Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 75th 
anniversary of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM).
  State Statute and then Common Council Resolution established the 
Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, on May 1, 1944, to address 
the need for affordable housing in Milwaukee.
  Entering its 75th year, the Housing Authority of the City of 
Milwaukee provides affordable housing to almost 11,000 households in 
the City of Milwaukee through its public and affordable housing 
programs and Housing Choice Voucher program. Its mission is to foster 
strong, resilient, and inclusive communities by providing a continuum 
of high-quality housing options that support self-sufficiency, good 
quality of life, and the opportunity to thrive.
  During the past 75 years, the Housing Authority of the City of 
Milwaukee has provided stable affordable housing to thousands of 
families, seniors, persons with disabilities, and veterans. They first 
accomplished this by acquiring a city-built, WPA-assisted development, 
and subsequently by creating almost a thousand units of housing for 
veterans and building other innovative developments; including the 
first high-rise designated specifically for the elderly and one of the 
first housing authorities to develop public housing single-family 
homes.
  The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee works with its 
residents to provide them a pathway to self-sufficiency through its 
many initiatives and collaborations in areas such as public safety, 
accessibility, job training and workforce development, educational 
support, energy efficiency, financial literacy, environmental 
stewardship, household savings and homeownership.
  It has done this as a national leader in creating healthy, safe, 
vibrant, transit-oriented, sustainable, mixed-income communities of 
choice. They have transformed neighborhoods and continue to be 
innovative in their methods and services, as well as flexible in 
responding to the affordable housing needs in Milwaukee. The Housing 
Authority of the City of Milwaukee is a strong supporter of Emerging 
Business Enterprises, with over $20 million dollars annually in 
contracts supporting minority and women-owned enterprises
  The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has partnered with 
multiple federal agencies to bring housing and services to its 
residents and has been awarded multiple federal competitive grants, 
resulting in new and revitalized developments, including the very first 
completion of a HOPE VI grant from the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.
  The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has been recognized 
locally, nationally, and even internationally with dozens of awards for 
both its buildings and its services from organizations such as the 
American Planning Association, U.S. Green Building Council, Governor's 
Council on Financial Literacy, the Ash Center for Democratic Governance 
and Innovation at Harvard University, Congress for New Urbanism, the 
State & Local Energy Report, The Environmental Protection Agency's 
Sustainable Communities Program, Wisconsin Department of Public 
Instruction, National League of Cities and the Sierra Club.
  Madam Speaker, for these reasons I am pleased to honor the Housing 
Authority of the City of Milwaukee. This agency continues to be an 
innovative leader in affordable housing and makes the 4th Congressional 
District a better place to live and work.

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