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

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.

The organization highlighted the importance of affordable housing in Milwaukee, noting its alignment with Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Housing.”

“So for us, it’s just about awareness for the need for affordable housing. As we all know, Mayor Johnson has declared 2026 the Year of Housing here in Milwaukee. And so we see this as part of that larger awareness of why there’s an affordable housing crisis in Milwaukee and how Milwaukee Habitat helps address that for first-time homebuyers,” Sebald said.

Habitat for Humanity said the monthly cost for a Pope Leo Village home is less than $1,000 a month, making homeownership attainable in the Harambee neighborhood.

A non-Habitat home in the area averages about $150,000, underscoring the affordability of the Pope Leo Village project.