Displacement Risk Dashboard Uses Numerous Data Sources to Identify Trends Affecting Affordable Housing
MILWAUKEE (Sept. 16, 2026) – A capacity crowd of more than 200 community, business and elected leaders and affordable housing advocates were introduced to a new online tool that identifies neighborhoods threatened by displacement and trends affecting affordable housing today.
The demonstration of the Displacement Risk Dashboard occured at the Community Development
Alliance’s annual conference. Created by Data You Can Use, the dashboard uses zoning, property ownership, census, land use and other publicly available data sets to identify neighborhoods threatened by different causes of displacement.
CDA Chief Alliance Officer Teig-Whaley-Smith said the Displacement Risk Dashboard is a new tool CDA
will use to implement Milwaukee’s Collective Affordable Housing Strategic Plan to advance racial equity by providing a quality, affordable home for every Milwaukeean, regardless of race.
“We are drawing on our mission to create affordable, quality homeownership opportunities. Creating
new, affordable inventory is a vital tactic to achieving that strategy,” said Whaley-Smith. “But we are also now committed to understanding the multiple causes of displacement: abandonment, divestment, and gentrification. Families that wish to remain in their homes shouldn’t be forced out of them.”
He added that having quantifiable data and metrics that community leaders, funders, nonprofits and
policymakers can have access to is vital in addressing the affordable housing crisis at the local, state and national levels.
“This new displacement dashboard is tremendous for providing me with the data and the tools
necessary to help persuade my colleagues to support legislation and protections for residents,” said State Assembly member Supreme Moore Omokunde. “I commend CDA, Data You Can Use, and all of you here today for coming up with such an incredible tool.”
“It’s simply not enough to build new homes. We have to protect current residents from being displaced,” said Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell. “The data is the foundation for understanding what is causing displacement and how we combat it to ensure residents can stay in their homes and in their preferred neighborhoods.”
City Attorney Evan Goyke told those gathered that his office is focused on holding negligent landlords accountable for dilapidated rental properties, adding that the city is hopeful that a federal bankruptcy court will name a receiver for 138 properties currently owned by Highgrove Holdings, LLC.
The city is suing Highgrove as a nuisance. Goyke said 41 of the 138 properties involved in the lawsuit are either vacant or abandoned; they amassed more than 4,000 dode violations and more than $300,000 in unpaid property taxes. He noted that Highgrove advertised that it will pay a 12-18% return to investors.
“We believe Highgrove’s business movel is a nuisance in itself,” said Goyke. “We have three lawyers working on this and could use triple that for this and similar owners. Interventions matter.”
Mayor Cavalier Johnson noted that for the first time in several years, more new homes were built in the City of Milwaukee than were demolished and that homeownership in the city is increasing.
“Thanks to CDA and others, we’ve been able to reduce the racial gap in homeowership in a very
meaningful way – growing Black and Hispanic homeowners in Milwaukee. Real success is happening
because of our partnerships,” said Johnson.
Johnson lauded the collective work of CDA allies and funders for increasing the number of high-quality, affordable homes being built and singled out 80-year-old Virginia DuPriest, a Lindsay Heights resident who still lives in the house her parents bought 70 years ago. DuPriest is an active and vocal advocate for affordable housing in her neighborhood and throughout the city, testifying at Common Council hearings and representing Lindsay Heights on CDA’s Resident Advisory Council on Housing.
“We were only the fourth Black family out of 30 homes on the block when we moved there in 1956. Our upstairs neighbors moved out after two months after they found out my parents were their landlords,” said DuPriest. “I live upstairs and keep the downstairs available for any family member who needs a place to live. My oldest granddaughter and grandson will receive the house after I’m gone with the plan to stay the same so that any family member without a place to live will have a place to stay.”
Megan McGee, Executive Director of Ex Fabula, shared the story of Teree Hobson, a preschool educator for the past 25 years who was suddenly evicted earlier this year while working to purchase her first home. In July, she closed on one of the 42 single-family homes built bythrough CDA’s Early Childhood Educator homes program.
“Homeownership is about more than just owning property. It represents stability, security and a better
future for me and my family. Becoming a homeowner is a hard-earned accomplishment, and a reminder that perseverence can turn a dream into a reality,” MeGee quoted Hobson. ”I also believe that living in a Metcalfe neighborhood and becoming a homeowner allows me deep pride in where I live, and helping build a stronger neighborhood for everyone.”
