Jewish Family Services has opened a new supportive housing residence, aimed at addressing Milwaukee’s affordable housing shortage for senior citizens.
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Residences at Woodale Crossing Senior Affordable Housing, an $18.7 million project, began welcoming residents in early August.
Located in Brown Deer, the new 56-unit building is a step forward in tackling Milwaukee County’s critical shortage of affordable and supportive housing for seniors, according to Daniel Fleischman, interim president and CEO of JFS. The nonprofit is making use of an uncommon approach, combining real estate development with on-site social services.
The development offers affordable apartments for older adults, with 14 of the 56 units specifically reserved for seniors with disabilities and histories of housing instability.
“This community reflects our belief that stability, respect and access to care should be part of every housing solution,” Fleischman said.
On-site support is a cornerstone of Woodale’s supportive housing model. To support residents’ daily needs, JFS has assigned two on-site staff members to provide case management and socialization programming. Fleischman noted that these services range from help navigating benefits or resolving disputes to organizing group events and community activities, such as holiday celebrations, bingo games and art classes.
The development includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. The 42 general affordable apartments are available to seniors who meet low-income requirements.
The 14 supportive units can make use of Section 8 vouchers, a rare and valuable benefit in a region where the waitlist for such assistance can stretch more than a decade. With the Section 8 vouchers, individuals pay 30% of their income toward rent, regardless of what their income is, according to Fleischman. The 14 units are for seniors with disabilities who face or have faced housing instability, which may include past evictions, hospital discharges without a safe home to return to, or the loss of caregiver housing arrangements.
Woodale Crossing was financed primarily through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which accounted for roughly $11 million of the total cost. Additional funding came from Milwaukee County, private philanthropy and a mortgage JFS will repay over the next 35 years. Key partners included WHEDA, National Equity Fund, FHLBank Chicago’s Affordable Housing Program, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and Bader Philanthropies, among others.
Fleischman emphasized that while JFS is rooted in Jewish values like tikkun olam and tzedakah, its housing is open to the broader community and includes a diverse mix of religious and cultural backgrounds. “We’re a Jewish agency because of why we serve, not who we serve,” he said. Still, JFS maintains its cultural identity in its buildings through holiday programming and community events.
Developed independently
Woodale is the first housing project the organization has developed independently, building on 15 years of experience and four prior projects completed in partnership with a private developer. This shift is both mission-driven and cost-effective, allowing JFS to reinvest more resources into support services and future developments, according to Fleischman.
JFS started planning the Woodale development before the COVID-19 pandemic and the process took almost five years to complete, noted Fleischman. “I’m incredibly proud that JFS took this lead, even in the midst of Covid,” he said.
The opening brings the JFS housing portfolio to five developments and more than 425 residents across its campus. However, as Fleischman noted, the need far outpaces the supply. “It is incredibly meaningful for the 75 lives that will be impacted by living at Woodale Crossing. But the broader need is so much greater,” he said.
JFS plans to continue developing affordable and supportive housing. While no specific new project has been announced, the organization is actively exploring future opportunities.
“The need is only growing for affordable housing,” Fleischman said. “So, we are hoping that this is the first of future projects where we’ll do similar work.”
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