Historic Milwaukee Soldiers Home Will Once Again House Veterans

A national historic landmark district in Milwaukee will be the site of 100 housing units for homeless veterans.

Under a leasing deal between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the city of Milwaukee and a Madison developer, six vacant buildings in the Milwaukee Soldiers Home District will be renovated into 100 apartments and duplexes, and a support services office for veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. One of the six buildings includes the prominent Old Main.

The district was built in 1867 for Civil War veterans and is located on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center campus, west of Miller Park.

Many of the district’s buildings are empty and in need of repair.

The Milwaukee Housing Authority will manage the new facilities.

“A veteran may come in for medical services and afterwards need permanent housing,” said Roberta “Bobbi” Marsells, Milwaukee Housing Authority assistant secretary. “So this would be an opportune time to keep them connected to not only the medical facility, but to the services that will be provided by the Center for Veterans Issues.”

Project officials said part of the $40 million project includes making use of state and federal tax credits for low-income housing and historic preservation projects.