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Community Updates, News Stories, Best Practices, Resources, and other data supporting the development of affordable housing for the citizens of Wisconsin in every city and region in the State. Please consider partnering with us and sharing your story

Key Points:

• The real estate company Redfin says Madison will be one of America`s hottest housing markets in 2026.
  
  
• The Great Lakes region has wide appeal because of affordability and being a `relatively safe haven` against climate change, the report says.
  
  
• Madison`s rapid growth is creating a housing crunch that city leaders are struggling to solve.
  
  
• Heat, wildfire smoke and flooding worsened by climate change still affect Madison.

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Leo’s notes: The city’s population is projected to grow 37% by 2050, yet Madison has not added housing nearly fast enough to match demand. Home values continue to climb, higher-income buyers are competing for the most affordable units. With mortgage rates expected to ease slightly and wages projected to outpace home prices next year, 2026 could offer a window to accelerate supply — but only if communities stay focused on expanding attainable, workforce-oriented housing rather than allowing demand to outstrip opportunity yet again.

Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) and St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity (SCV Habitat) are proud to announce a meaningful partnership aimed at improving community health by expanding access to safe, stable and affordable housing.

WWH has donated a parcel of land near the original Baldwin hospital site to SCV Habitat, supporting the construction of future Habitat homes for local families in need.

The organizations are currently working closely with the Village of Baldwin to finalize property access and development details, with plans to begin building in spring 2026.

Access to stable housing plays a critical role in overall well-being. According to studies highlighted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), safe and affordable housing are directly linked to improved health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and greater health equity...

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Leo’s notes: Western Wisconsin Health’s land donation to St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity is more than a real-estate transfer — it’s a clear acknowledgment that housing is healthcare. By providing land for future Habitat homes in Baldwin, WWH is investing directly in community well-being and supporting the workforce that keeps rural health systems running. Research cited by the CDC underscores the impact: families who secure safe, affordable housing see fewer emergency visits, more primary care engagement, and better long-term health outcomes. As the median age of first-time homebuyers climbs to 40 and affordability pressures grow, partnerships like this offer a blueprint for how health systems and housing organizations can work together to build stability, resilience, and healthier communities across western Wisconsin.

The impetus for increased access to affordable housing is a red-hot economic issue. What does Wisconsin do to address this problem and what should they do instead?

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Leo’s notes: Wisconsin’s housing debate has once again turned to affordability — but the real question is whether the state is ready to move from passive management to proactive reform. As the MacIver Institute points out, Wisconsin’s role has largely been indirect: relying on WHEDA’s bond-backed programs and federal partnerships while investing little state funding of its own. Yet with housing costs now consuming nearly half of household income and first-time buyers approaching 40, the status quo is untenable. Real progress will require more than expanding subsidies — it will take tackling structural barriers like restrictive zoning, outdated codes, and fragmented local rules that keep supply tight and prices high. Wisconsin’s next housing package will show whether lawmakers are prepared to take on those harder, long-term fixes.

Ken Notes: I get very nervous about using MacIver Institute as a source because they lean heavily to one side of the isle, but in this case the data, resources and links they include in the article are worth reviewing and saving. They also suggest a state led initiative which makes sense but I wold like to see a goals and intensives programs that gives local governments some flexibility. We need to identify programs that actually create lower cost homes by helping with zoning, building codes, and fixed costs like infrastructure and amenities (like parks or schools) rather than creating programs that will simply make developers more wealthy.

As Madison leaders and developers seek to build the city’s stock of affordable housing, one nonprofit has sought to keep land affordable for community uses like housing and urban agriculture since 1991.

The Madison Area Community Land Trust plans to add affordable housing through several projects in the next few years, including 12 townhomes on the Voit Farms property on Madison’s east side. Those projects are meant to build on more than five dozen homes already in the trust, which are kept affordable through a unique model.

This month marked a transition for the organization, with Mason Cavell taking over from Olivia Williams as the trust’s new executive director. The outgoing and incoming leaders recently sat down with the Cap Times to discuss the area’s housing needs and the nonprofit’s goals, and to answer the question: What is a land trust anyway?...   ...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: Through a model that separates land ownership from the home itself, MACLT ensures that every public dollar invested in affordability stays in the community forever — keeping homes attainable for families earning $50,000–$80,000. With new leadership in place and projects underway at Voit Farms and beyond, the land trust is expanding missing-middle options, supporting first-time buyers, and reducing displacement pressures by freezing land costs for future generations. In a moment when stability is increasingly out of reach, community land trusts offer one of the most durable pathways to affordable home ownership and long-term neighborhood resilience.

Ken Notes: It is the land and land owner the controls the development. Working with communities, Land Trusts could solve much of the workforce housing issues in the State by developing small clusters of homes, nice small well built architecture, great amenities and public space.

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Leo’s notes: The Corliss marks a milestone for Wisconsin—proof that large-scale, collaborative investment can truly reshape a community. Transforming a former industrial site into 576 affordable homes, including 144 dedicated senior units, The Corliss stands as the largest private affordable housing development in state history and a model for inclusive, mixed-income growth. Backed by city, state, and private partners—from TIF support to brownfield financing—this project not only delivers critically needed homes for households earning up to 80% AMI, but also demonstrates how intentional public–private partnerships can turn long-neglected land into vibrant neighborhoods. As Milwaukee celebrates this achievement, The Corliss offers a powerful reminder: bold housing solutions are possible when every sector pulls in the same direction.

The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) building could be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use residential development.

MPM Inc., the non-profit that runs the museum, is building a new facility at 1310 N. 6th St. MPM will close the existing museum at 800 W. Wells St. and open the Nature and Culture Museum of Wisconsin in 2027.

The building on W. Wells Street is owned by Milwaukee County, which hired consultants in 2024 to plan for the future of the empty building. The consultants GRAEF, Bear Real Estate Group and CG Schmidt are recommending the county demolish the building and market the site for mixed-use redevelopment, according to a report from the county’s Economic Development Division...

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Leo’s notes: Milwaukee’s soon-to-be-vacant Public Museum site could become one of the most consequential housing opportunities in the region. With museum operations moving to the new Nature and Culture Museum of Wisconsin in 2027, consultants are recommending the county demolish the aging, structurally failing Wells Street complex and open the 3.7-acre site to high-density, mixed-use residential development. Early concepts show the potential for up to 555 new homes, including market-rate, workforce, affordable, and student housing — a transformative scale at a moment when Milwaukee’s housing shortage continues to deepen. As Milwaukee County prepares to issue an RFP in mid-2026, this project represents exactly the kind of site where bold housing investments can reshape opportunity for the next generation.

In its third and last Community Grant cycle of the year, Alliant Energy and the Alliant Energy Foundation awarded over $980,000 to various causes and nonprofits across Iowa and Wisconsin. This brings the 2025 total Alliant Energy has awarded to over $2.28M. 

All Community Grant recipients seek to make an impact on Alliant Energy’s four focus areas: Community safety and engagement, environmental stewardship, hunger and housing and workforce readiness...

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Leo’s notes: As housing costs continue to climb across the region, philanthropic partners like Alliant Energy play an increasingly important role — not as a replacement for policy action, but as a catalyst that strengthens local safety nets and helps communities move closer to stable, attainable housing for all.

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Leo’s notes: Osceola’s consideration of a $20 million, 60-unit affordable housing development by Impact Seven is another clear signal that local communities recognize the growing need for workforce-focused homes. With rents targeted to households earning 30–60% of area median income, this project would serve teachers, restaurant workers, seniors, and veterans who are increasingly priced out of the communities they support. Funded through existing affordable-housing TID dollars—at no new cost to taxpayers—the proposal represents a pragmatic, partnership-driven approach to addressing housing shortages. As demand for “worker-rate” housing intensifies statewide, Osceola’s model underscores how communities can leverage WHEDA tax credits and local tools to expand housing options and strengthen their labor force.

Robert Hensel, representing First Place Homes, told the Oshkosh Redevelopment Authority that his firm wants to buy the infill lot at 347 West 7th and build “workforce-type housing” aimed at first-time buyers who cannot afford typical new-construction prices.

Hensel said the project would rely on collaboration with the city and the RDA and named Legacy Homes (represented by Scott Overstrat) as a contractor partner. He said the homes would be designed to limit discretionary amenities and keep construction quality, not “cheapy” finishes: “We don’t intend to build cheapy homes, we intend to build quality homes,” Hensel said.

The developer proposed using income-eligibility screening similar to Habitat for Humanity and suggested deed restrictions or a second-mortgage recapture mechanism so gains from an early resale would return to the RDA to fund future homes. Hensel described the plan as a pilot that could scale to multiple infill lots if successful.

Board members asked technical and policy questions about accessibility, past precedents and how any resale recapture would be structured. One member asked whether the city or RDA already uses the proposed recapture mechanism; staff said not exactly, but noted similar language exists in other local programs and that staff would pull model language from existing Habitat Homes and Washington Avenue agreements...

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Leo’s notes: Oshkosh is taking an encouraging step toward expanding attainable homeownership, as the Redevelopment Authority signaled support for a pilot “workforce home” proposal on an infill lot at 347 W. 7th. First Place Homes and Legacy Homes are collaborating on a model that combines modest, quality construction with income-eligibility screening and resale-recapture safeguards to keep homes affordable over time—an approach similar to Habitat and other mission-driven builders.

Wiaconsin’s housing market remains relatively affordable by national standards, but a shortage of new construction is starting to strain that stability.

The Realtor.com® State-by-State Housing Report Card gave the Badger State a C+, signaling moderate affordability but sluggish homebuilding activity. The report—part of the Let America Build campaign—grades each state on how well it balances housing costs and construction momentum.

President Donald Trump recently put pressure on homebuilders to increase construction nationwide, given the issues with construction in the country. In a post on his Truth Social platform in early October, he accused major builders of hoarding lots to prop up prices—likening them to OPEC, which restricts oil output to maintain high prices...

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Leo’s notes: Wisconsin earned a “C+” on Realtor.com’s new state housing report card—an average grade that reflects a troubling imbalance: homes remain relatively affordable compared to the coasts, but new construction continues to lag behind demand. With the state producing far fewer permits than its population share, and new homes priced nearly 40% above existing ones, Wisconsin risks slipping further behind as national shortages deepen. Governor Evers’ recent bipartisan housing reforms are a step toward closing a statewide deficit of 120,000 rental units, yet without meaningful zoning updates and faster permitting, affordability will continue to erode. The message is clear: Wisconsin must accelerate housing production now, or today’s “C+” will quickly become tomorrow’s “D.”...

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Veterans Community Project provides temporary housing in 240-square-foot homes for veterans who stay an average of 335 days to address problems and implement a plan for independent living.

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Ken Notes: While our focus is workforce housing, solving the homeless issue should begin with Veterans. Imagine an amendment to the GI bill that states that GI`s will be able to find affordable housing in the US. Wisconsin has some working examples of these "villages".

Housing everywhere is less affordable, but the affordability crisis is accelerating fastest in rural areas, according to an analysis by Redfin.

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ENABLING BETTER PLACES: A USER’S GUIDE TO WISCONSIN NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABILITY	WHEDA’s Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative	Wisconsin REALTORS® Association
WISCAP Affordable Housing Network	Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources	Housing Authority City of Milwaukee (HACM)
Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp	WEDA Legislative Tracker	NRA Housing Needs By State / Wisconsin
Wisconsin Housing Alliance	Office of Rural Prosperity Wisconsin Economic Development

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Nate Notes: to be included as a Workforce Housing resource email us a link and a brief note to: wwhnews.com@gmail.com...

If village trustees were to extend the TID, the increment captured for the housing betterment fund would total approximately $700,000, according to Deputy Administrator Lauren Freeman....

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(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s home sales report continues to sound like a broken record.

The Wisconsin Realtors released their latest report Thursday, showing October home prices were up, inventory lacked and affordability continues to be a problem.

“For the fifth straight month, both existing home sales and median prices increased statewide,” the report states. “October home closings rose 3.4% compared to October 2024, and the median price increased to $331,500, which is a 6.9% increase over the last 12 months.”...

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Middleton’s plan commission recommended against rezoning the property

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Notes:

Last winter, I got an intriguing story tip: Many Wisconsin manufactured home communities were operating with expired licenses. 

I didn’t initially know much about these communities, often called mobile home parks, where residents own their homes but rent the land they sit on. I quickly learned they provide a critical source of affordable housing in Wisconsin and beyond — the country’s largest portion of unsubsidized low-income housing. 

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Ken Notes: These parks could provide a new solution to affordable housing but currently they are being bought as investment properties with absentee landlords and ever increasing rents.

A developer plans to build 40 rental houses in Milwaukee`s Amani neighborhood ? if the firm can obtain federal affordable housing tax credits.

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Leo’s notes: Milwaukee is taking another meaningful step toward rebuilding housing stability in long-disinvested neighborhoods, granting Emem Group exclusive negotiating rights on 40 city-owned parcels in Amani for a proposed affordable rental development. If awarded federal low-income housing tax credits this spring, the project would bring new homes to an area that has seen decades of vacancy and disinvestment — with long-term affordability requirements built in. At the same time, the city is launching a pilot to spur “missing middle” homeownership by providing lots and subsidies for replicable duplex, townhome, and small-scale infill designs.

RACINE, WI — The former St. Nicholas Episcopal Church property at 2509 16th Street has been cleared for redevelopment, with construction of four affordable homes set to begin in 2026.

According to City Housing Manager Veronica Seymour, the City of Racine is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build the new homes...

...The church, owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, had been vacant for several years and was in poor condition, prompting the city’s Community Development Authority (CDA) to consider its acquisition and redevelopment...

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Leo’s notes: Racine’s plan to replace the long-vacant St. Nicholas Episcopal Church with four new Habitat for Humanity homes is a small but meaningful step toward addressing the city’s estimated 3,500-unit housing shortfall. By leveraging federal HOME funds and partnering with Habitat, the city is turning an underused property into quality, ownership-ready housing that fits the neighborhood and serves income-eligible families. It’s another example of how thoughtful infill development — even at a modest scale — can strengthen communities, stabilize blocks, and expand opportunities for families priced out of the market.

NEENAH, Wis. (WBAY) - Froedtert ThedaCare is investing in the future of healthcare in Northeast Wisconsin. The health system is building new on-campus housing for medical residents at ThedaCare Medical Center-Neenah.

Approximately 56 townhouse units will be constructed in two phases on Doty Island. This housing will support ThedaCare’s graduate medical education program, which was accredited in September.

The program aims to train and retain physicians, addressing Wisconsin’s need for thousands more doctors by 2035...

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Ken Notes: This is an idea that could be used in a number of businesses. Housing and Skilled labor are two of the biggest concerns today...

The homes, whose owners are expected to move in by the end of 2025, are the second and third completed in Sister Bay by the Door County Housing Partnership, which also built five in Sturgeon Bay.

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Leo’s notes: These are the seventh and eighth homes completed by the Door County Housing Partnership — and part of what could become a 10-home affordable subdivision in Sister Bay. Using the community land trust model, the partnership keeps homes permanently affordable by retaining ownership of the land and selling the homes at below-market prices, supported by grants and donor subsidies. Families build equity responsibly while ensuring the homes remain attainable for future income-eligible buyers. With demand rising, a dollar-for-dollar match campaign is now underway to help build two more homes in 2026 — a clear reminder that sustained community investment is essential to expanding the region’s long-term affordable housing supply.

BRILLION, Wis. — Two months ago, work started on a new 42-unit apartment and community development in Brillion.

Aaron Abler with the Ariens Company said the project is part of a wider transformation by Brillion Works LLC of 144 acres of the former Brillion Iron Works site.

“Brillion has a housing shortage. By adding these 42 units, we’re bringing more people to Brillion,” he said. “We want Brillion to be a place where people can work, live, play and stay for a while.”

Long-term, the Brillion Works project is expected to add two more apartments, a walking path, other businesses and the restoration of a creek that runs through the area...

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Leo’s notes: Brillion’s redevelopment of the former Brillion Iron Works site is a clear example of how communities can turn underused industrial land into urgently needed workforce housing. The first 42 units of a planned multi-phase project are underway, part of a broader vision that includes additional apartments, commercial space, walking paths, and restored natural features. In fast-growing Calumet County—now matching Dane County’s pace—employers are feeling the pressure of limited local housing, with businesses noting that workers who can live nearby stay longer and strengthen the local economy. Brillion’s approach shows how strategic redevelopment can address housing shortages across all types—single-family, multifamily, and missing-middle—while supporting employer retention and creating more vibrant, livable communities.

RHINELANDER (WJFW) -- Oneida County has faced a housing crisis in recent years, but a new planned development in Rhinelander will bring more living spaces to the area.

Just along highway 17 across from the Rhinelander Menards is an expected location of new apartment and townhome housing, thanks to Shorewest Realty and The Oneida County Economic Development corporation.

The Northwoods housing crisis has been a problem in the area for the last two decades. Businesses are having trouble finding employees as options for living spaces have been limited. Shorewest real estate agent Deb Mann explains the process for how this came to be...

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RHINELANDER (WJFW) — While prices haven’t started falling and it’s still considered a seller’s market, the supply of houses is slowly growing as the Baby Boomer generation gets older.

David Clark, economics professor emeritus of Marquette University and economics consultant for the Wisconsin Relators Association, acknowledges the struggles of current home buyers.

“The real challenge is not on the demand side. There’s plenty of demand for housing but the real challenge is on the supply side,” he said. “There are simply more people who want to buy homes than there are homes for them to purchase.”...

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Ken Notes: For boomers to vacate the nice affordable homes they live in now, there will have to be nicer homes and communities to move into. We can do this but we need to plan and design neighborhoods that are attractive to those willing to move. Florida and Arizona Have been doing this for decades...

Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers.

The typical home value in the United States was $362,117 in October, 0.1% higher than the year before.

High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of November 20, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits at 6.26%.

Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value...

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Leo’s notes: Wisconsin’s latest home value rankings underscore what families and employers already feel: affordability is slipping fastest in the communities where opportunity is strongest. With typical home values topping $1.9 million in Oconomowoc Lake and half of the state’s most expensive cities clustered around Madison and Milwaukee, the divide between where people work and where they can afford to live continues to widen. These trends reinforce the urgency of expanding workforce and “missing middle” housing—because in far too many high-growth corridors, owning a home is drifting out of reach for the very people who keep these communities running.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Renovations at a decades-old public housing tower on Green Bay’s west side are officially complete.

A grand reopening ceremony was held Thursday to celebrate accessibility and energy-efficiency upgrades at Mason Manor. This eight-story, 152-unit apartment complex is located on Admiral Court in Green Bay. Constructed in 1972, the high-rise is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains the foundation of the Green Bay Housing Authority portfolio.

GBHA worked with Gorman & Company, a Wisconsin-based affordable housing firm, to execute the renovations, which took place in four phases over two years. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) served as a lending partner providing low income housing tax credits...

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Leo’s notes: The $25 million renovation of Green Bay’s Mason Manor is a reminder that preserving affordable housing is as important as building new units. By modernizing a 1972 high-rise—replacing plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and key accessibility features—Green Bay Housing Authority and Gorman & Company extended the life of 152 affordable homes for decades to come. In a growing city where demand continues to outpace supply, these projects are critical: revitalizing existing stock keeps residents housed, stabilizes neighborhoods, and protects affordability far more quickly than new construction alone can deliver.

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Leo’s notes: Watertown’s new Habitat for Humanity project may add just 12 homes, but its significance reaches far beyond the building site. By pairing surplus land from Madison College with Habitat’s sweat-equity model, the city is demonstrating exactly how community partners can work together to expand desperately needed workforce housing. In a region squeezed by too few options and rising costs, these duplexes offer more than affordable mortgages—they offer stability, dignity, and a foothold in the community for working families. Each small project like this is another reminder: solving Wisconsin’s housing shortage won’t happen overnight, but every unit built moves us closer to the future our communities deserve

HUD cuts could endanger housing for families, veterans, children

A proposed budget from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that cuts funds which have meant the difference between shelter and homelessness for about 170,000 people nationwide has left communities scrambling. In Wisconsin, the cuts are projected to cause the loss of permanent housing for 2,379 people according to a report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The loss of funds would hit early in the new year, leaving local governments to absorb the fallout in the middle of winter. 

Korey Lundin, senior staff attorney at the National Housing Law Project and former staff attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin, told the Wisconsin Examiner that the grants that HUD cut —  known as Continuum of Care (CoC) funds — “help thousands of people. That includes folks who have been recently unhoused.” In Wisconsin, 52% of permanent housing funding is covered by the CoC program...

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MADISON, Wis. — Many communities along I-94 between Madison and Milwaukee are seeing a lot of growth. Economic leaders have started referring to it as “The MadWaukee Corridor.”

The Kinateders decided to buy a home in Johnson Creek because of its central location, better affordability and small-town feel.

“[It’s] halfway in between Madison and Milwaukee,” said Lindsay Kinateder, who works in Madison. “So that’s perfect, because we can still have the best of those worlds, right?”

They are not alone. There are several new housing developments in the works to meet a growing demand, including The Ponds in Johnson Creek...

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Leo’s notes: The rapid rise of the “MadWaukee Corridor” is a clear reminder that housing supply must keep pace with economic growth. With Jefferson County seeing a 119% surge in single-family permits and more than $1 billion in manufacturing investment on the horizon, communities like Johnson Creek are becoming magnets for workers seeking affordability and access to both Madison and Milwaukee. Local leaders recognize that new jobs require new homes, and the momentum along I-94 shows what’s possible when communities proactively plan for growth. As more families move in and major employers plant roots, the corridor’s success underscores a simple truth: workforce housing isn’t just a social priority—it`s economic infrastructure.

Across Wisconsin many employees can simply not afford to live where they work.

This is true in big cities and small rural communities. Both the availability and price of housing is not in line with the needs of those working in jobs that are vital to the success of our communities. Imagine a firefighter, teacher, city employee, service, or retail worker not able to afford a home in the community they serve.

We believe Wisconsin employers will support these efforts so they can successfully recruit workers to fill the thousands of job openings now hampered by a shortage of affordable housing.


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WWHNEWS Notes: To add a resource or correct above send data and link to wwhnews.com[at]gmail.com...