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Milwaukee board approves Courage House relocation amid neighborhood concern, grants three‑year special use
Summary
Courage Plus told the Board of Zoning Appeals the group home provides trauma‑informed, long‑term placements for foster‑involved LGBTQ+ youth; neighbors expressed worries about notice, police calls to other Courage sites and safety. The board approved the special use for three years with conditions and state licensing oversight.
The City of Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a special‑use permit for Courage House to relocate to 3416 South 88th Street, granting a three‑year approval subject to conditions in the hearing summary and continued oversight by city departments and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Courage Plus associate director of programming Alicia Hart told the board the organization operates Wisconsin’s first licensed group home specifically for displaced LGBTQ+ youth and described a trauma‑informed model intended to provide longer, stabilizing placements. "We are here seeking approval to relocate the Courage House," Hart said, adding that the program keeps youth in placement for a period "more than six times longer" than the statewide average and that staff are trained in trauma‑informed care.
Why it mattered: supporters and elected officials said Courage House fills a service gap for youth who need stable housing and specialized supports. Alderman Peter Regalas, who conducted extra outreach in a roughly 450‑ to 480‑foot radius beyond the standard notice area, described a mixed but engaged neighborhood response and said his office gathered postcards and public comments. "We received 16 households that were opposed, 20 in support, and 3 unsure," Regalas said, and pledged to work with the operator and neighbors to address issues.
Neighbors pressed for limits and clearer information. Several nearby residents said they received late or limited notice of neighborhood meetings and cited public‑safety concerns tied to calls for police service at Courage’s other locations. One nearby resident said, "I wasn't notified," and another asked for a shorter approval window so the neighborhood could reassess the operator’s performance. Resident speakers also raised practical questions about age limits, parking and building code items such as sprinkler and ADA requirements.
Board discussion emphasized enforceable conditions and existing mechanisms. Staff and board members noted the applicant’s plan of operation limits residents to ages 12–17 and stressed that DCF licensing and city enforcement would be available if conditions were violated. A motion to approve the special use for a three‑year period was seconded and adopted by the board.
What the board decided: the board voted to approve the special use for Courage House for three years, subject to conditions in the hearing summary and continued monitoring by city departments and the state licensing authority. The approval gives the organization time to open the site and for neighborhood‑to‑operator relationships to develop while preserving the board’s ability to review the operation at renewal.
Next steps: the operator will pursue any required occupancy permits and state licensing steps before opening; aldermanic and department follow‑up was pledged to monitor compliance and neighborhood impacts. If significant violations occur, enforcement actions from DNS or state licensing could follow and would be a basis for future review by the board.
