Mission
Revitalize Milwaukee (RM) preserves affordable housing and revitalizes vulnerable neighborhoods throughout the Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. We improve lives by providing FREE, professional home restoration, vital safety repairs and life-changing accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners who are senior citizens, veterans and/or persons with disabilities. Our impact is extended beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods. Home by home, block by block, entire communities are transformed.
Ruling year
2000
CEO
Lynnea Katz-Petted
Main address
840 N. Old World Third St. Suite 600
Milwaukee, WI 53203 USA
EIN
39-2006470
NTEE code
Housing Rehabilitation (L25)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
There are hundreds of low-income homeowners in Milwaukee that have worked hard to stay in their home but due to financial constraints are unable to pay for critical repairs that keep them safe in their home. For example, when someone's water heater goes out, they can't afford the $2,000 it takes to replace it so they are forced to live without hot water. That's where we step in. We believe that no one should feel unsafe in their home or have to choose between fixing their sparking outlet or paying for life-saving medication. We provide critical home repairs for low-income homeowners to keep them safe, stabilize their neighborhood by keeping them in their home, and ultimately transform their community.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Block Build
The Block Build is an annual event where corporations and volunteers work on 20 homes that are owned by low-income veterans, elderly, or persons with disabilities. The day is full of activity as over 750 volunteers donate their skills and sweat equity to complete numerous repairs and accessibility updates. Professional services are frequently donated to ensure that all homeowners are left with a safe and healthy environment.
Emergency Repair Program
Emergency Repairs address urgent threats to life, health, safety, and housing. We are the only agency in Southeast Wisconsin to complete emergency repairs free of charge to qualified homeowners. Some examples of other emergency repairs are:
• Serious plumbing issues
• Non functioning furnaces, particularly in cold weather months
• Non functioning water heaters
• Broken windows, particularly in cold weather months or if it presents a security issue
• Electric and other fire hazards
Accessibility Modifications
Accessibility Modifications are changes to increase the accessibility and ease of use of a home for a person with limited mobility. Older owners who are decisive about their independence need modifications to make their houses livable. The house that was acceptable for a middle-aged person is often not functional for older owners. Very frequently owners need exterior ramps, wider hallways, remodeled bathrooms, and redesigned kitchens. Homeowners who can no longer manage stairways resort to sleeping on a sofa or reclining chair, or are unable to bathe because the main bathroom is on the second level. We work with Occupational Therapists who conduct assessments and make recommendations to ensure homeowners are able to remain in their home safely and independently.
Some examples of accessibility modifications:
• grab bars
• handrails on stairways
• lever handles on doors and sink faucets
• widened doorways to accommodate wheelchairs
• improved lighting
• wheelchair ramps
• repair of exterior and interior steps
• non-skid, contrast strips for stairs
• handheld showers
Critical Repair Program
Critical Repairs are less urgent than emergency repairs, but still essential to enable homeowners to remain in their homes.
Some examples of essential repairs:
• carpentry
• plumbing repairs
• updating electrical items
• installation of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
Comprehensive Services
We have partnerships with diverse organizations and businesses that share the same goal of keeping low-income veterans, seniors. and persons with disabilities in a safe environment. As collaborating agencies, we provide homeowners with the tools they need to ensure their continuous contributions to the neighborhoods where they live. Some of the agencies who help us meet our goals are health and community organizations such as the Milwaukee Department on Aging and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people no longer living in unsafe or substandard housing as a result of the nonprofit's efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total number of people served as of 2021=7,071.
Dollars invested in the nonprofit's community
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total dollars invested=$24 million.
Number of community partners the nonprofit works with to ensure clients receive all the services they need.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Working with community partners provides homeowners with all services they need, beyond just housing.
Number of home repairs completed.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total number of home repairs=22,000+.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our main goal is to revitalize 400 homes in the Greater Milwaukee Area which will impact over 600 individuals. By making these homes safe for the people living in them, we give them peace of mind. They no longer have to worry about someone breaking in, falling through the porch when they leave their home, causing a fire because of faulty wiring, or falling in the shower because they don't have grab bars to steady themselves.
Beyond direct benefits to the individual, our repairs stabilize neighborhoods and maintain the city's tax base by keeping homeowners in their homes.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We are not the largest provider of free home repairs in Southeast Wisconsin by accident. We are successful at we do because of our collaboration, innovation, and dedication. We work with over 50 community partners to leverage every dollar we spend, ensuring our clients receive the most effective assistance and have all of their needs met. We are constantly working to improve our programs and develop new programs that enhance our mission and allow us to reach more people more effectively. Lastly, we are committed to the people we serve. We know that for many people we are their only option and we are proud to be able to help them in their time of need.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our team is comprised of dedicated experts that are well connected within the community. We work with other nonprofits, construction companies, independent contractors, and Occupational Therapists to provide our homeowners with the best experience and most effective, sustainable repairs possible. We are also supported by incredible donors, sponsors, and volunteers that recognize the importance and value of our mission and help us reach more people every year.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 2000, we have completed work at over 3,000 homes, changed the lives of over 7,000 people, completed over 22,000 repairs, and invested $22 million into our community. In 2022, our goal is to work in over 400 homes and expand our work to include lead abatement and workforce development to increase and upskill the contractor workforce in Milwaukee. We have already begun training contractors to perform lead abatement work through contracts with the state and city that will allow us to perform over 200 lead abatement jobs over the next year.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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REVITALIZE MILWAUKEE INC
Board of directorsas of 05/24/2023
Bruce Elliott
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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