Services | City Of Milwaukee Neighborhood
Improvement Program (NIP)

Community First provides occupant owners in targeted neighborhoods access to forgivable loans, averaging $25,000 to complete substantial home repairs. Qualified applicants are low and moderate income families who have lived in their home a minimum of five years. Our staff serves as the liaison between the families, contractors, and City of Milwaukee staff.

Recognizing that the key to neighborhood stability is owner occupancy, the NIP program has operated for over 30 years to strengthen and preserve city neighborhoods. Working in unique and successful partnerships with community based organizations, NIP assistance corrects city building and safety code violations and reduces lead based paint hazards, enabling residents to remain in their homes. Community First is one of seven NIP agencies and operates the largest program on the North side of Milwaukee.

Homeowners are the backbone to safe, successful neighborhoods. By providing important resources for these families, Community First is helping to preserve home ownership and prevent foreclosure.

Please see this map to see if your home is in an NIP-eligible neighborhood.

  • Electrical Systems
  • Plumbing
  • Heating
  • Major Masonry
  • Tuckpointing
  • Foundation Stabilization
  • Minor Carpentry
  • Roofing
  • Gutters
  • Painting
  • Lead Based Paint Remediation

*Repairs are required to be code-based in nature. The City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) decisions are final.

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NIP Guidelines and Terms and Property Eligibility Guidelines

Homeowner Eligibility Guidelines

  • Must be the owner-occupant of an single family or duplex
  • Must have owned and occupied the subject property for a minimum of five (5) years
  • Must have a household income at or below 60% of the County median (as determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development )
  • Must reside within one of the 18 Neighborhood Strategic Planning (NSP) areas for the City of Milwaukee (the Community Development Block Grant area) – see map
  • Must be current on all property taxes, mortgage and utility payments
  • Must have current homeowners insurance
  • Have not received prior NIP (or Home Rehabilitation) assistance from the City of Milwaukee

Property Eligibility Guidelines*

  • There is a maximum cost cap for properties that participate in the NIP program. Extremely distressed properties may not qualify.
  • There is also a minimum cost for required work. If your home is in relatively good condition and has no critical code violations, your property may not be eligible for this program. *Additional eligibility requirements may apply.

NIP Terms

If you are accepted into the NIP program the following terms will apply:

  • Owners must sign legal documents at the time of application agreeing to remain the owner occupant for a minimum of five (5) years or throughout the period of affordability (per HUD guidelines). All required work as outlined by DNS must be corrected including both maintenance and mechanical items. Properties must be code compliant once NIP work is completed.
  • All work performed (maintenance, mechanical and lead work) is done as a forgivable loan secured by a Covenant Document. For single family properties, the cost of maintenance work is forgiven 5 years after the Covenant has been signed. For owner-occupied duplexes, the cost of maintenance work is forgiven after the Period of Affordability requirements have been met (details will be provided by your NIP agency).

Note: You may participate in the NIP program one time only. If you have received previous service through the NIP program or another federally funded city home repair/home loan program, you may not be eligible.

get started

Gabriel Fuentes
Housing Program Manager
414.446.3564
gfuentes@cfmke.org

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