Pope Leo Village brings affordable housing to Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood

Habitat for Humanity's Pope Leo Village project, part of a national housing initiative, is creating affordable homes in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood, inspired by Pope Leo's mission of community building.

MILWAUKEE —

Habitat for Humanity has launched the Pope Leo Village project in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood, part of a national initiative to create affordable housing in 21 cities and build 250 homes across the country.

The project began Friday near Sixth and Locust, with blessings written on the walls and a focus on hope and community.

"As we gather this morning to entrust to God the Pope Leo Village building project by Habitat for Humanity and its partners, our faith should be enlivened and our hearts filled with gratitude," Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Haines said.

Seven homes are either completed or under construction in Milwaukee as part of the initiative.

"The Pope Leo Village initiative is been motivated by an anonymous donor who is supporting all the projects across the country. And he reached out to us last year, after Pope Leo was elected with this idea," Kristi Sebald with Habitat for Humanity Milwaukee said...

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Leo's notes: Milwaukee’s Pope Leo Village significance is the focus on ownership: adding attainable starter homes gives working households an opportunity to build equity and establish long-term roots. Rental production remains essential, but healthy communities need pathways into ownership as well.