Kenosha, Wisconsin, got an early start on National Homeownership Month with a special proclamation from the mayor, and by putting the spotlight on homeownership opportunities created through a unique public/private/union/high school partnership.

The National Homeownership Month proclamation was issued by Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, perfectly timed for a May 22 Open House. The homeownership event focused on a new single-family housing construction program and the partnership that made it possible, including the City of Kenosha, the Carpenters Home Improvement Program, Inc.(CHIP), the Kenosha School District's CHIP Career Program, Harvest Homes, Inc., the Kenosha Housing Authority, and the Southern Wisconsin District Council of Carpenters.

Under the program - now underway in eight other Kenosha neighborhoods - the completed homes are sold at their appraised value to income-eligible first time homebuyers. While buyers must be able to obtain first mortgage financing from a primary lender, the city provides low interest, second mortgage financing to help the homebuyer cover the difference between their first mortgage and the purchase price. The entire program is funded in part by CDBG and HOME Investment Partnership grants.

Celebrating National Homeownership Month at a special Kenosha Open House: Jim Walters, owner of Harvest Homes and the home's architect; Del Reynolds, HUD's Wisconsin Field Office Director; Kenosha Mayor John M. Antaramian; and Dr. Joseph Hentges, Interim Supervisor of Kenosha Schools.

Through a competitive proposal process, the Kenosha Housing Authority selected Harvest Homes, Inc., as architect and general contractor for the program. Harvest Homes uses the School District's CHIP Program as the carpentry subcontractor for all the house framing, garage construction and finish carpentry. This is a "value-added" approach all the way around: students from the Kenosha Unified School District work on site with a Master Carpenter during all phases of each project and earn minimum wage while learning construction skills.

Visit HUD's New National Homeownership Month page.