"Very thankful:" Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity rehabs its 1000th home

MILWAUKEE -- 1000. That's the number of homes the Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has rehabbed int he Greater Milwaukee area. Friday, June 17th the keys were handed over to the new homeowner.

It's been a long time coming for Deanna Brown and her daughter.

"I feel overwhelmed in a sense, very thankful, grateful," said Deanna Brown, Habitat homeowner.

Friday, they officially moved into their new home in the Washington Park neighborhood.

For the last four years, Milwaukee Habitat has focused all of their work as part of a five-year neighborhood revitalization strategy. In that time, over 200 families have been served and the neighborhood has been helped.

Habitat for Humanity 1000 home

"Over the last two years, the Washington Park neighborhood has seen a nearly 30% reduction in crime across every metric which stands out in the city as a whole. Property values have stabilized and they're on the increase and people, residents, not just Habitat homeowners but residents throughout the neighborhood and more hopeful about the future for this neighborhood," said Brian Sonderman, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.

This new home means a brighter future for Deanna and her daughter who has some special needs.

"My daughter, she's got a wheelchair and a walker so she's not limited in our house in terms of what she can access and what she can't," said Brown.

Deanna Brown

Because this home is ADA compliant with an open concept and a handicapped accessible bathroom.

"Especially as she grows and becomes a bigger child or a teen even, that's hard to think about but it's more long-term for us that this will work versus how to make something work. This already works," said Brown.

Brown feels proud because she worked to help rehab it along with 200 other volunteers, seven months, and the sweet equity of the homeowner.

Habitat for Humanity 1000 home

"I've done painting, to putting up drywall to helping install windows," said Brown.

Now, she's proud to call it her own.

Habitat for Humanity 1000 home

Habitat for Humanity is far from over in the Port Washington neighborhood. They are currently rehabbing three more homes in the area.