In what is being hailed as a significant stride towards remedying housing instability, Milwaukee County’s Landlord Incentives to Foster Tenancy (LIFT) program reports noteworthy results in its efforts to provide stable housing for those in need. The LIFT initiative, introduced in 2024, incentivizes landlords with flexible tenant screening criteria to partner with the county’s rent assistance programs, which aim to facilitate the transition of individuals and families out of homelessness. The program’s achievements were recently showcased in a statement released on the Milwaukee County’s official website.
According to the Milwaukee County website, around 100 landlords have joined the initiative, resulting in nearly 300 households finding secure, affordable housing. This development marks a crucial advancement for those who routinely encounter obstacles in locating adequate shelter. The LIFT program affords landlords reimbursements for damages and losses, as well administrative aid and tenant support services, creating a collaborative approach to address housing crises.
“This is personal for me; I experienced housing instability growing up and want to support families with this fundamental need,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, reflecting on the initiative’s impact. He emphasizes his administration’s dedication to partnering with local landlords to develop more favorable screening processes that serve the county’s most vulnerable residents. Crowley’s commitment is informed by his own experiences and guided by the belief that strong public-private partnerships can combat the root causes of housing instability…