Call it "Extreme Makeover Cudahy Edition", with the end result benefiting multiple families and young adults struggling to find work.

The Cudahy Common Council has agreed to transfer $600,000 of previously borrowed funds to a project that will rehabilitate ten older properties in sore need of repair, and also increase home ownership in Cudahy.

The project is being done in partnership with the Milwaukee Community Service Corps (MCSC), a non-profit, vocational training organization that provides employment, education and life skills training to young adults, through projects that conserve the environment and revitalize the greater Milwaukee area.

The MCSC will be responsible for acquiring the ten homes.  The City funds will be granted to the MCSC to pay for up to $60,000 in renovations per home, which will be completed by young adults participating in the corps' vocational training program.  Following rehabilitation, each home will be sold and any profit used to create an acquisition escrow that will provide the down payment on the other properties.  The homes must be sold to owner-occupants.

 "We are committed to increasing the percentage of home-ownership and reducing the number of rental properties in Cudahy," said Mayor Ryan McCue.  "This project will go a long way toward boosting Cudahy's property values and increasing the tax base.  We look forward to working with such an outstanding organization as the Milwaukee Community Service Corps."

Christopher Litzau, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Community Service Corps, says he also looks forward to the partnership.

"It's a tremendous opportunity to model sustainable building practices, clean tech solution and workforce development that engages young people in the creation of green jobs and livable neighborhoods," Litzau said.

Talks are underway on the potential donation of a single-family home to the MCSC, which would become the first property to be renovated and then sold.  Single and multi-family homes in forclosure also could become part of the project.