Homeownership fair in Washington Park shows resources available to homeowners

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It can be hard to buy a home right now, and if you already have one, it can be hard to maintain a home as well.

Community organizers say there are ways to get help doing both of those things.

An event today showed residents how to connect with those resources, put on by United Methodists Children's Services and the Washington Park Neighborhood Improvement District.

"Today we are doing a homeowners resource fair and it's aimed at helping homeowners maintain fix, repair and remain in their homes," said UMCS director of Neighborhood Engagement Adrian Spencer.

Dozens of people came out to United Methodists Children's Services Wisconsin's Washington Park office this morning for the Washington Park Homeowners Resource Fair.

Spencer says partners with the city, banks, and non-profits all came out to the event to share ways to maintain homes and get funding to buy or maintain homes.

"By promoting home ownership, we help to stabilize our communities," said Spencer, "so in the Washington Park area, we're both very focused on number one helping our residents to remain in home and also for our other residents help them to decide is home ownership the path for me. [..] Bringing all those partners into one space for a short amount of time and giving folks access to where they are."

"We want to make our homes beautiful, right? And we want to bring them up to standards so our property value can go up," said community advocate Iran Jennings.

Jennings says she's made use of grants from non-profits before to maintain her home herself, which is why she says everyone in the community should look into what resources are available.

"I think people don't know the resources that we have in Washington Park, and it's important for them to have that information," said Jennings.

Spencer says if you missed the event today, you could reach out to their office for info on some of the programs by clicking here for their website.

"When people are investing in the community. It makes it safer, inherently," said Spencer.