Affordable housing development 

Turnkey Program | RENOVATION WORK:

VIA’s Turnkey Program transforms vacant bank and city-owned properties into fully-renovated, move-in ready homes, sold to income-qualified (<80% of the County Median Income) households, with a focus on the homeowners representing the neighborhood demographics.

Since the program’s founding in 2008, VIA has invested over $6 million to purchase, renovate and sell 33 homes to owner-occupant families in Milwaukee.

The Turnkey Program was established in the wake of the economic crisis in 2008 after VIA heard from neighbors that an increase in blighted, foreclosed properties were affecting their quality of life. Since then, VIA has been acquiring, renovating and selling properties to income-qualified families by combining our borrowing capacity with public subsidies, corporate philanthropic support and community partnerships.

VIA’s Turnkey Program achieves multiple goals: addressing foreclosures, increasing affordable homeownership opportunities, reducing crime and increasing neighborhood home values near each home renovation, combating housing displacement, employing minority-owned contractors and providing a fully-renovated Turnkey home for families to increase wealth.

Turnkey Program | NEW CONSTRUCTION:

In 2023, VIA shifted our work from renovation to new construction through the development of entry-level homes on Milwaukee‘s vacant lots. This shift responds to the collective goals of Milwaukee’s affordable housing strategic plan, focusing on increasing Black and Latino homeownership and addressing the city’s gap in affordable, entry-level homes.

The homes are approximately 1100 Sq. ft. with a projected sale price of $100,000. The homes are tailored to Milwaukee‘s vacant lots (with a narrower footprint) and designed for growing families (with plumbed basements and egress windows to add two future bedrooms and a bathroom in the basement).

VIA has partnered with LISC Milwaukee and the Community Development Alliance to develop these homes for the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Home initiative – a project focused on clustering homes around Early Childhood Education centers with the intent that they be sold to Early Childhood Educators to increase employee retention at the early childhood center by providing childhood educators with housing opportunities within a few mile radius of work.

Throughout 2024-5, VIA will develop 14 ECE homes throughout the near south side and Washington Park neighborhoods.

Turnkey Renovated Homes typically feature the following upgrades:

• Energy efficiency improvements including new heating and cooling equipment, windows, insulation and air sealing
• Restored original woodwork including hardwood floors, built-in cabinets and trim
• Fully remodeled kitchens and bathrooms
• New roof
• New plumbing and electrical systems

Qualifications to purchase a Turnkey Home include:

• Total household income below 80% of the county median income
• Homebuyer counseling course certificate (see above partner organizations who offer this)
• A plan to own and reside in the home for at least 5 years