ReThink, a new initiative sharing individual stories of success made possible through public housing, launched nationally on May 16, 2013. At www.ReThinkHousing.org, people are able to watch, listen, and read stories describing how public housing offers more than a roof over someone’s head.

This national initiative profiles residents from all over the country, but a number of people featured on the site have roots in Milwaukee public housing. Among those featured are Sayvon Friend, a young man from the Highland Homes neighborhood who is now a college freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Sayvon’s family, including his mom Kendra and two young twin brothers; Darrell Finch, Education Specialist and one time resident of Lapham Park; and Andrew Garrett and his family who live in Highland Homes. These individuals are featured in both the launch video on the ReThinkHousing.org home page as well as in a video on the “Fosters Education” section of site.

On a national level, the goal of ReThink is to challenge the sometimes negative perceptions Americans have about public housing. Having a safe and stable home is a basic human need, but the reality is that for millions of Americans, a reasonable place to live is still financially out of reach. According to the recently fielded ReThink Survey: Perceptions of Public Housing 2013, the majority of Americans (83%) believe that all U.S. citizens deserve a decent and safe place to live. Yet, current economic and federal budget conditions have decreased funding for public housing, making it even less attainable for at least half a million people on waiting lists across the country. Even with this harsh reality, 63% of Americans surveyed do not support public housing in their own neighborhoods and more than half (52%) would not want to live near a public housing unit. 

But Milwaukee is somewhat different, because the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM)'s newer developments have already broken the stereotypes prevalent in other areas of the country. In many ways, HACM is leading the way. For instance, the Hillside, Parklawn, Carver Park, Highland Gardens & Homes, Convent Hill, Olga Village, and Westlawn Gardens developments have all been transformed over the past 20 years into welcoming centers of stability for their surrounding neighborhoods.  Perhaps most importantly, the Housing Authority’s wide range of social service programs have helped thousands of families move toward and achieve self-sufficiency.

Learn more about the positive effects of public housing at ReThinkHousing.org.