“When you invest in women, you’re investing in their families. When you invest in families, you invest in the community.”
Willie Mae Hill has dedicated her life to serving women, mothers, and families in Milwaukee. She’s worked in workforce development, she’s helped families access vital healthcare services, and helped individuals and families find the safety and security of a home.
Today, at Heartland Housing’s Maskani Apartments in Milwaukee, Willie Mae helps formerly homeless families navigate the often-confusing systems that are supposed to help them achieve stability. For many who have experienced homelessness, there’s a lot of distrust in bureaucracies and programs. Willie Mae stands besides those individuals as they access new resources and benefits.
“Really, I’m just a guide. I want to help our families gain the confidence that they can do this themselves.”
As that guide, Willie Mae is also dedicating her time to encourage a strengths-based model of care. She listens to the residents of Maskani Apartments – and brings services directly to them. Just recently, Maskani Apartments hosted a series mobile food pantry events after hearing from families struggling from the economic fallout of COVID-19. The events have provided dozens of families with boxes full of fresh foods – including meat, vegetables and fruit.
“You know, moms are facing a lot here at Maskani – and they’re often times having to do it alone. That is a lot of pressure. We need to support them, especially in those pressure areas.”
And removing that pressure has a sort of multiplier effect on people trying to rebuild their lives. We see many families thrive thanks to that added safety and security of stable housing. Reducing that stress gives moms and families the capacity to thrive in other areas of their lives – which is precisely where Willie Mae’s supportive service experience comes in.
Chiquita is one of the many moms who moved her family out of housing instability and into Maskani Apartments during the pandemic. She believes that Willie Mae’s attention to the community’s needs makes the difference between chaos and reliability during COVID-19.
“Willie Mae is so kind and friendly, and her knowledge has helped my family access some really important resources during this time,” Chiquita said. “This place helps women and moms get the support they need to be great at what we do – help our own kids and families make it through this life.”
Willie Mae and Chiquita have spent a lot of time getting to know one another, building the trust necessary to allow for real growth. A fairly common success story for Maskani is when families actually move out of their apartment and into new homes. Maskani has given many families the chance to build life on their own terms, with many becoming homeowners and the like.
And Willie Mae is ready to stand beside those moms and families every step of the way.
“I want these moms to know that their strength is what got them this far. It’s that strength that got them housed, I’m just here show them a path that allows them to continue to thrive.”
