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Wisconsin Workforce Housing News |
 Ken Harwood Advocating for Wisconsin 608.334.2174 Leonardo Silva Architect / Full Service Design Firm 608.698.3522 This Weeks Articles for 4/13/2026 ...
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  |
Nonprofit home builders trumpet new Wisconsin law that provides bridge loans for first-time homebuyers |
 JANESVILLE — Gov. Tony Evers has signed a bill into law that will help working people in Wisconsin more easily reach homeownership. A local homebuilding nonprofit official from Habitat for Humanity said the new law, brought forth through Assembly Bill 454, will provide up to $10 million statewide for secondary home mortgages that will help first-time homeowners afford newly built housing. Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha, Jefferson and Rock Counties Director of Development Sue Vock says the new lending program would provide additional “bridge loans” for first-time homebuyers that offset about $270 a month in mortgage cost... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: this is an important complement to supply-side reforms: building homes is only half the equation—buyers also need pathways to afford them. If paired with continued efforts to expand starter-home production, programs like this can help reconnect new housing supply with the households it is intended to serve. |
Housing Solutions Matchmaker Tool |
 County Matchmaker Tool OverviewLiving and working in the communities they serve, county leaders across the country understand the local housing conditions and challenges faced within the community. As these challenges appear on the doorstep of county officials, local governments often face complex decisions to effect substantive change. The housing policy matchmaker aspires to be a resource for local officials, providing information that assists in understanding the elements of local housing markets, identifying key challenges and providing resources on policies that might help enhance the local housing landscape. Recognizing that local governments vary in their available resources, as well as legal powers,there is no single comprehensive strategy that works for all places. Rather, the tool provides a data-informed assessment, referring local officials to resources that support county leaders’ continued actions to improve the affordability, quality and supply of local housing stock... Explore the Tool...Full Story Here Leo’s notes: Rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions, Housing Solutions Matchmaker tool emphasizes that housing challenges are inherently regional and require alignment across municipalities, funding sources, and regulatory frameworks. This reinforces a critical reality: no single jurisdiction can solve the housing crisis alone. The communities making the most progress are those acting regionally—aligning zoning, infrastructure, and funding tools across borders to scale housing production and affordability. Ken Notes: There is no single solution but every County still has a problem. We need to build communities and neighborhoods to address the issue. Leo and I do have ideas that we have seen work in both the cities of Madison and Milwaukee and small rural communities across the state and we will continue to share as long as we can. |
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson declares 2026 the 'year of housing' in his State of the City address |
 MILWAUKEE — Hundreds crowded the Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy gymnasium Monday evening to hear Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson present his annual State of the City of Milwaukee address. During his speech, Johnson shared how he’s declared 2026 the year of housing. Focusing on three factors — affordability, availability and quality. “Everyone who currently lives in Milwaukee and everyone who wants to live in Milwaukee should have access to an affordable, safe home that meets their needs,” said Johnson.... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: As highlighted by Mayor Johnson’s speech, housing is no longer a side initiative — it’s core economic and public policy strategy. Milwaukee’s approach of pairing financing tools with ecosystem-building (ownership pathways, workforce units, safety investments) reflects a more comprehensive model that other cities will need to replicate to meaningfully move the needle. |
Armstrong Housing Bills Signed into Law |
 Gov. Evers Signs Four Armstrong-Authored Bills Aimed at Expanding Affordable Housing and Supporting Rural Communities.WISCONSIN — After a session of advocating ways to
address Wisconsin’s affordable housing shortage, State Rep. Dave
Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) is happy to announce that Gov. Tony Evers signed
four Armstrong-introduced housing proposals into law on April 8. The
Senate had passed all four bills on March 17, the last day of the
regular 2025-2026 legislative session. “As a state representative and as a county economic development
director, I recognize the critical importance of affordable housing to a
community’s long-term survival,” Representative Armstrong said. “Nobody
wants to work where they can’t afford to live. “Housing isn’t – or shouldn’t be – a Republican vs. Democratic issue, or
an urban vs. rural issue – it affects all of us one way or another,”
Representative Armstrong continued. “I’m grateful for the increased
interest the housing issue received in the Legislature this session and
for the bipartisan support these proposals enjoyed in committee and on
the Assembly and Senate floors.”... Leo's notes: A broad package of bipartisan housing legislation was recently enacted with aims of reducing development barriers and expanding production. These new laws support residential TIF districts, rural LIHTC allocations, streamlined workforce housing loan access, and expand historic tax credit eligibility. While no single reform will solve the shortage, aligning tax policy, financing tools, and development regulations is exactly the type of multi-pronged strategy needed to improve long-term housing production statewide. |
‘They are squeezing everybody in this park to death’: Owners of manufactured homes get little protection as private equity moves in |
 Experts estimate that more than 100,000 Wisconsin residents live in manufactured homes, the more accurate name for what many call mobile homes or trailers — structures that make up the country’s largest portion of unsubsidized low-income housing. Many live in parks where they own their homes but rent the land beneath them.But Wisconsin’s government is failing to enforce basic protections for residents at a time when private equity firms are buying up parks to maximize profits, a Wisconsin Watch/WPR investigation found. Wisconsin law requires operators to keep parks “in a clean, safe, orderly and sanitary condition at all times.” The Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is supposed to enforce that law and licensing standards. But it rarely inspects parks, allows many to go unlicensed and doesn’t even know which parks are operating... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: As private equity increasingly acquires parks, residents — who often cannot afford to relocate their homes — face growing instability with few clear avenues for recourse. This highlights a critical gap: preserving affordability without enforcing standards is not true housing stability. If manufactured housing is to remain a viable part of the affordability solution, Wisconsin must modernize oversight, strengthen tenant protections and treat this sector as essential infrastructure — not an afterthought. Ken Notes: If the Wisconsin Legislature really wanted to make a difference in housing in Wisconsin they would draft regulations requiring investors to maintain clean safe home sites for their residents or lose the property. Also provide for a safe way to report abuse without fear of reprisal. |
Workforce housing branches out |
 POYNETTE — In April 2025, Leah White and her aunt moved into an apartment in the new Point Gardens, an 80-acre development just beyond Dane County’s borders in neighboring Columbia County. White said she was seeking housing at an affordable price point and a community that felt safe, healthy and connected.Her window overlooks a courtyard of community gardens that have yet to awaken, but they’re beautiful during the growing season, she said. White has cultivated tomatoes, strawberries, lettuce and rhubarb. “I feel like this is the type of neighborhood I had when I was a kid, where people are starting to know everybody, all the kids know everybody,” she said. She added that her new home, while not inexpensive, is more affordable and nicer than other nearby options and offers a better quality of life... Leo's notes: With homes priced below Dane County averages and apartments leasing quickly, Point Gardens in Poynette highlights how demand is spilling into nearby communities where land, entitlement and infrastructure costs are more manageable. While this expands access, it also raises long-term questions about commute patterns, regional planning, and whether core cities can adapt quickly enough to retain their workforce. Interesting trend worth following closely... |
A federal housing bill could reshape who owns single-family homes. In Wausau, the stakes are personal. |
 A Senate-passed package takes aim at Wall Street landlords — but one provision is drawing scrutiny from builders who say central Wisconsin can’t afford to lose any housing investment.WAUSAU — Before the debate in Washington over who should be allowed to own a single-family home reaches Wisconsin, local leaders must reckon with a simpler fact: this region doesn’t have enough of them to begin with. A regional planning study projected demand for more than 2,000 housing units in the Wausau metropolitan area by 2025. A separate 2022 assessment identified a need for at least 586 additional affordable units in the city alone. A 56-unit affordable housing complex on Wausau’s west side — announced in 2021 — only recently neared completion, delayed for years by a financing gap. It is against that backdrop that a sweeping federal housing bill, now
stalled in a congressional standoff, is drawing attention in central
Wisconsin. The legislation, called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,
is the most ambitious housing package Congress has attempted in
decades. It passed the Senate by a massive bipartisan margin of 89 to
10, aimed at boosting housing supply
and preventing Wall Street from buying up single-family homes. But it
now faces an uncertain path in the House, where several provisions have
become flashpoints... Leo's notes: Despite federal momentum behind the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, local leaders in Wausau point to persistent shortages in entry-level homes, workforce rentals, and “missing middle” housing, all driven by rising construction costs, financing gaps, and regulatory delays. As I’ve mentioned before, it is supply—not speculation—that continues to constraint most of our Wisconsin communities (Midwest markets too!). While limiting institutional investors may resonate politically, communities like Wausau will see the greatest impact from policies that reduce barriers to building, unlock financing, and enable attainable housing at scale... |
Northmarq Arranges $23M Sale and $18.265M Acquisition Financing for Douglas Terrace Apartments in Wisconsin |
 Northmarq’s Chicago Investment Sales team led by Alex Malzone, Parker Stewart, Dominic Martinez and Jake Lamb, in collaboration with its Chicago Debt + Equity team led by Brett Hood and Kevin McCarthy, successfully arranged the sale and acquisition financing of Douglas Terrace Apartments, a 202-unit garden apartment community located at 3706 Douglas Ave. in Racine, Wisconsin.Northmarq completed the $23 million sale representing the seller, MLG Capital LLC. The buyer was a private capital group from Illinois... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: transactions like this highlight a key dynamic: existing workforce housing is not only in short supply, but increasingly viewed as a stable, high-performing investment opportunity. While capital flowing into these assets reinforces their value, it also reinforces the urgency for communities to preserve and expand workforce housing inventory so affordability is not eroded as demand — and investor interest — continues to rise. |
553 affordable housing units set to open in Madison |
 Madison is set for a major boost to its affordable housing supply on lands formerly belonging to Oscar Mayer. The six-story Victoria at Huxley Yards — a 250-unit senior living complex with one- and two-bedroom apartments — is fully leased with most of its residents set to move in April 1. The View at Huxley Yards, a 303-apartment building with units ranging from one- through four-bedrooms, saw its first residents move in last week. Both complexes are rent-restricted for residents making 50-70% of the area median income of roughly $90,000 for an individual or $130,000 for a family of four, according to Abby Thomas, regional manager at Seldin Co., the Omaha-based firm that manages both properties. Interest in both facilities has been high, with the company fielding around 150 inquiries a week from prospective residents, Thomas said... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: The Victoria (250 senior units) and The View (303 family-oriented units) are fully or rapidly leasing, serving households earning 50–70% of area median income, with additional deeply affordable units planned in a future phase. For communities facing persistent shortages, this model shows how underutilized sites can be repositioned into high-impact housing assets that serve seniors, families and the workforce alike. |
New Housing Benefits Residents and Community in Madison's Hawthorne Area |
 Madison, Wisconsin, has been growing steadily. Between 2010 and 2021, Dane County, the city's home, added more than 38,000 jobs and welcomed nearly 42,000 new households yet permitted only 34,000 new housing units. This shortage of housing contributed to an increase in the median price of a home from $226,000 in 2010 to $369,000 in 2022, exceeding the overall growth rate of home values in Wisconsin, and average rents rose by 28 percent over the same period. In response, Dane County has set a goal of adding 35,300 new workforce housing units for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) by 2040. In 2025, the opening of Rise Madison in the city's Hawthorne neighborhood helped close some of this gap, adding 245 units of income-limited housing as one of the largest government-subsidized housing developments to open in the state's history. Project Background Rise Madison is built on the 6-acre site of a former bakery; "Rise" refers both to the goal of uplifting the community and to the rise that yeasted dough undergoes in breadmaking... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: scale, mixed-income design, and integration with infrastructure and community assets all matter. Projects like this show that when public tools, zoning flexibility, and community alignment come together, housing can do more than fill units — it can actively strengthen neighborhoods. |
City Keeping Two TIDS Open To Boost Affordable Housing Funds |
 The Sturgeon Bay Common Council agreed April 7 to make use of a provision in state law that will allow the city to extend the life of Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) #2 and #3 by a year to generate additional funds in the city to support affordable housing. By using the additional year’s increment collected in 2027 from the 2026 tax roll, 75% of the property-tax increments received would be used to benefit affordable housing, with the remaining 25% available to improve the city’s housing in general. Affordable housing is defined by state statute as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross monthly income, such as the apartment units Spoerl Commercial plans to build in TID #6 along North 14th Avenue using low-income housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: Sturgeon Bay is leveraging a powerful but often underused state tool by extending two mature TIDs for an extra year to generate roughly $1.6 million for housing initiatives. The move will direct the majority of proceeds toward affordable housing, with remaining funds supporting broader housing improvements citywide. Smart municipal TID extensions allow communities to recycle past economic development success into future housing production without creating new taxes. As more Wisconsin communities confront housing shortages, I hope this strategy becomes an increasingly common part of the local housing toolbox. |
New affordable housing in Duluth |
 Duluth’s inventory of affordable housing expanded on Friday with the grand opening of two new supportive housing developments: Wadena West and Welch Place Apartments. Located next to each other on 52nd Avenue West, the new buildings offer a total of 90 units designated for single adults experiencing homelessness. As supportive housing, the apartments pair affordable rent with on?site services designed to help residents stabilize and rebuild their lives... ...The $31 million project was funded through a blend of local, state, and federal support. Major contributors included: Minnesota Housing, St. Louis County, City of Duluth, and Private investment partners... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: As communities look to reduce homelessness long-term, investments like this demonstrate how housing, health and social services must work together to create lasting outcomes. Affordable housing alone is not enough for the most vulnerable populations — supportive services must be integrated into the model. |
The Amazingly High Cost of Housing |
 Why the American Dream is becoming impossible in WisconsinThis week’s State of the City address by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson was all about housing. He touted efforts to increase home ownership and create more affordable rental housing, as Urban Milwaukee reported. That might sound like a city issue, for those who are less well-to-do. In fact, the problem of “housing affordability” and “housing availability” noted by the mayor is one that has become a massive issue across America. The statistics on this are jaw dropping... See Also:
Ken Notes: We may have mentioned this -- in fact weekly for the last five years. We need to address this as a community by working together... |
Survey to assess Milwaukee housing conditions kicks off |
 MILWAUKEE — A program aimed at identifying the overall condition of Milwaukee’s housing stock is making a push to get more data. The community organization Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods, or RON, officially kicked off its annual housing survey last week. Between now and early summer, surveyors will head out to 20 different Milwaukee neighborhoods concentrated on the north and south sides. The goal is to assess the condition of around 40,000 homes, getting information about the exterior physical condition of the house... ...Full Story Here |
Wisconsin Workforce Housing Resources |
 ...Full Story HereNate Notes: to be included as a Workforce Housing resource email us a link and a brief note to: wwhnews.com@gmail.com... |
‘Missing middle’: La Crosse at ‘kickoff’ of plan to incentivize new family homes |
 The city of La Crosse is beginning a new push to incentivize the construction of family homes.The city’s Economic & Community Development Commission unanimously passed a policy outline for the Housing Incentive Fund, which would dedicate millions to building housing geared toward families and homeowners. The proposal, which will go to the full council for final consideration April 9, is still in its early stages — or as one city official put it, “this is kind of the kickoff of this process.”... Leo's notes: La Crosse is taking a notable step to rebalance its housing strategy, advancing a new Housing Incentive Fund aimed at supporting single-family and “missing middle” development. Backed by roughly $1.5–$2 million, the program signals a shift from a rental-heavy pipeline toward homeownership opportunities — particularly for families. If structured well, targeted incentives like this can help close the feasibility gap for builders and reintroduce the kinds of housing — duplexes, triplexes, starter homes — that are essential for long-term community stability and generational wealth. |
Milwaukee officials pitch $4.7 million in TIF funding for two affordable housing projects |
 Milwaukee officials are proposing two new tax incremental financing districts totaling about $4.7 million to support affordable housing developments in Bay View and the Near West Side. The first proposal would provide $2.6 million toward the redevelopment of a vacant former hospital at 2711 W. Wells St. into 124 affordable housing units. The project, ......Full Story Here Leo's notes: Milwaukee’s proposal of two new Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) districts totaling roughly $4.7 million to support affordable housing underscores a growing trend: adaptive reuse paired with TIF is becoming a critical tool to unlock otherwise infeasible projects. As construction costs remain high, leveraging underutilized buildings and targeted public financing will be essential to scaling affordable housing in built-out urban areas. Ken Notes: We need a new program for communities to buy and improve properties then ask builders, developers, and others to build homes for sale at unsubsidized affordable prices for our workforce. P.S. Sorry if the paywall prevents you from reading the details... |
https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2026/03/31/johnson-state-of-the-city- |
 LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Housing affordability in Wisconsin could be improving despite continued price increases and low inventory, according to a new real estate report from the Wisconsin Realtors Association. The report shows home sales decreased 1.2% in February while prices continued to climb. According to the WRA, the median home price in western Wisconsin was $317,000. In February, mortgage rates were lower and the number of listings increased, suggesting conditions may be shifting in favor of buyers. "With the inventory low, you typically see competing offers and the competing offers tend to push prices higher. Whereas if we have more houses and less competition for those houses, obviously the prices will stabilize," said Mike Pietrek, former president of the La Crosse Area Realtors Association... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: Even with a shift toward more listings and potential reduction in bidding pressure and slow price escalation, this "market relief” still isn’t helping with the needed structural change. Improved inventory may help buyers at the margins, but affordability will remain constrained until supply meaningfully expands — particularly in entry-level and workforce price ranges where demand continues to far outpace available homes... |
Baldwin Holds Housing Roundtable in Wausau |
 WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — US Senator Tammy Baldwin was in Wausau on Monday to hear about the region’s housing crunch. The discussion focused on several ways the housing shortage has impacted people, including businesses and individuals. She says she was glad to hear some companies are getting creative to solve the problem. “They are looking at how their business can help meet this need,” said Baldwin. “Whether that’s the modular home industry, where they can create efficiencies of scale, or [developers] that have been focusing their construction efforts on affordable and workforce housing.”... ...Full Story Here Leo’s notes: Tammy Baldwin addressed the housing shortage in Wausau, highlighting solutions like modular construction and employer-driven initiatives. She also promoted the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would cap corporate ownership of single-family homes and encourage rent-to-own. This dual-track approach aims to address supply through innovation and rebalance ownership dynamics. However, long-term relief depends on scaling production, particularly workforce and attainable housing- alongside policy changes. |
Cohousing Promises Lower Costs. Why Hasn’t It Worked in the US? |
 From shared meals to shared tools, cohousing offers a vision of lower-cost, community-centered living. While that vision is taking hold in the UK, communities in the US face barriers that drive up costs and limit who can participate.Cohousing residential communities are designed to foster neighborliness, encouraging practices like borrowing ingredients from neighbors, sharing occasional meals, and watching one another’s children. Cohousing is a “community intentionally designed with ample common spaces surrounded by private homes,” according to the Cohousing Association of the United States (CohoUS), a national nonprofit that promotes these types of neighborhoods. As CohoUS Board President Laurie Frank explains, “You bring in architects who know how to build for people who connect. … You’re always crossing paths. An example is that parking is on the outskirts of the building, not right outside your door.” Nationally, there are about 160 cohousing communities across the U.S., says Trish Becker-Hafnor, CohoUS’s executive director. Industry numbers are imprecise, but a cohousing community in Santa Cruz, California, estimates that around 13,000 people nationally and over 60,000 worldwide live in cohousing communities. These communities are typically structured legally as condominiums, though other structures such as cooperatives can be used... Notes: Leo's notes: While traditionally costly in the U.S., emerging models that pair cohousing with tools like community land trusts or retrofit existing neighborhoods are beginning to lower barriers and expand access. Simply put, affordability is not just about unit cost, but about shared resources, reduced space needs, and social infrastructure. If integrated with proven affordability tools, cohousing could become a meaningful part of the “missing middle” solution — blending housing supply with stronger, more resilient communities... |
Homeownership is slipping out of reach in Dane County |
 With skyrocketing costs and a skilled labor shortage, new construction can’t keep pace with the city’s population boom, driving prices up and shutting prospective buyers out.“We built our offers to go up as high as $100,000 over asking and got outbid on six consecutive homes.” “I got rejected from multiple houses, until I decided to waive my inspection.” “Our family couldn’t afford to live in Madison, so we bought a home in Rock County and commute to work.” Experiences like these, unfortunately, aren’t unique. Bidding more than $100,000 over asking price, waiving a buyer’s inspection and settling for a commuter location are familiar trade-offs for prospective Madison homebuyers in the past five years... Leo's notes: Madison’s affordability crisis reflects the full complexity of today’s housing shortage: explosive population growth, lagging construction, labor shortages, rising land costs, and decades of restrictive zoning that’s pushed homeownership increasingly out of reach for middle-income households. Simply put, this illustrates a critical truth for communities statewide: housing affordability is no longer simply a pricing issue—it is a systems issue. Sustainable progress requires simultaneous action on land use, labor force, construction innovation and economics, and political willingness to prioritize future affordability over protecting scarcity-driven home values. All parties involved need to look for creative, leaner solutions that “pencil” for everyone. |
New DeForest affordable housing program utilizes multi-pronged approach |
 The Village of DeForest has officially launched its new affordable housing program, HomeReach DeForest, after the village board unanimously approved it on Tuesday, March 17. The program is split into two parts: the Affordable Housing Development Fund and the Home Improvement and Downpayment Assistance Fund. “HomeReach DeForest is about making sure our community remains accessible and livable for a wide range of residents,” DeForest Community Development Director Alex Allon said. “This program allows us to support both new housing development and the people who already call DeForest home.”... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: this is a strong example of using TIF not just for projects, but as a sustained housing ecosystem tool — supporting both supply and stability. For growing communities like DeForest, balancing new development with resident retention will be critical to maintaining long-term affordability and community continuity. |
Opportunity Zone Program Presents Strategic Window for Multifamily and Affordable Housing Investment |
 Real estate developers, investors, and community leaders have a unique opportunity in the coming months to ensure that state officials appropriately designate low-income census tracts that will most benefit from investment dollars related to the federal Opportunity Zone program.Since the enactment of the program in 2017, Qualified Opportunity Zones across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories have attracted significant private investment, fueling housing development, job creation and economic revitalization in underserved communities. With the current Opportunity Zone program set to sunset as of Dec. 31, 2026, recently enacted legislation expands and makes permanent Opportunity Zone tax benefits for investments made on or after Jan. 1, 2027, into newly designated Qualified Opportunity Zones. Beginning on July 1, 2026, the governor of each state may nominate up to 25 percent of the state’s low-income communities for designation as new Qualified Opportunity Zones effective Jan. 1, 2027. Consequently, multifamily and affordable housing developers — and the investors that support them —have a short window to provide elected leaders with insight as to the low-income communities that could benefit most from Opportunity Zone designation — particularly those where additional housing supply is both needed and economically viable... Leo's notes: Recent updates to the Opportunity Zone Program — including rolling tax deferrals and enhanced incentives for rural areas — could make it an even more powerful tool for financing affordable and workforce housing after 2026. Another critical moment to act upon is here, as Opportunity Zones mapping will directly shape where capital flows for the next decade. If aligned intentionally, the program can help unlock housing in communities that are both underserved and development-ready — but without that alignment, it risks missing the areas that need it most. |
Senator Baldwin visits Hayward housing development |
 US. Sen. Tammy Baldwin visited
Trailview Cottages on Hwy. 77 in Hayward on March 30 to tour the
workforce housing development and meet with local and regional partners
involved in the project.The visit highlighted ongoing efforts to expand access to affordable housing in northwestern Wisconsin and support workforce development across the region. Baldwin highlighted federal support for the project during her visit. “Wherever I travel in Wisconsin, the challenge to find affordable
housing and a good paying job go hand in hand,” she said. “Investing in
affordable housing and workforce training is a win-win for Wisconsin
families and businesses. That’s why I was proud to deliver $4 million to
help make the project I visited in Hayward a reality.”.. Leo's notes: Trailview Cottages pairs 40 workforce housing units with training access through Northwood Technical College, reinforcing the growing recognition that housing shortages are constraining labor force participation as much as job availability. From a housing perspective, this is the kind of integrated rural development model worth replicating: housing, workforce training, and economic development are interconnected rather than treated as separate policy silos. For many of our rural communities facing both labor shortages and population stagnation, this alignment may prove essential to long-term competitiveness. |
USDA funds home repairs investments in 11 Wisconsin counties |
 STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WKOW) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced new funding for home repairs in 11 Wisconsin counties. The initiative is meant to assist low to very low-income homeowners with essential health and safety updates. "Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA Rural Development is committed to ensuring safe, affordable housing for rural Wisconsinites," said Andrew C. Iverson, Wisconsin state director. "Every Wisconsinite deserves a safe place to call home. This investment makes it more affordable for families, seniors and individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes with the accessibility and security that is needed so they can live independently.".. ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: Local partners, including Habitat for Humanity affiliates, will use the funding to improve safety, energy efficiency and accessibility for dozens of households. This program is a reminder that preservation is one of the most cost-effective housing strategies available— especially in rural markets where new construction is limited. Helping residents stay safely in their homes not only stabilizes communities, but also protects existing affordable housing stock that would be far more expensive to replace... |
Bridging the Housing Gap: Stories from Two Midwest Communities |
An Innovative Cities LectureCommunities of every size are facing mounting housing shortages—from overall supply constraints to the lack of affordable options. This session explores practical strategies for expanding housing availability through the experiences of a mid-sized Wisconsin city (La Crosse) and a small Minnesota community (Wabasha). Learn how each community gathers and uses data to demonstrate need, applies a range of financing tools to make projects feasible, and implements planning approaches designed to attract investors, encourage development, and deliver more housing where it’s needed most. ...Full Story Here Ken Notes: Lecture at the link... |
134 households ‘at risk of going homeless’ as northeast Wisconsin nonprofit abruptly closes |
 Closure came amid more than $2M deficit, calls from lawmakers for investigation into taxpayer fundsAn anti-poverty nonprofit in northeast Wisconsin abruptly shut down Tuesday due to major financial troubles, putting more than 100 households at risk of becoming homeless. Newcap, which served low-income residents in 10 counties for more than 50 years, announced the closure on Tuesday. The nonprofit, funded primarily through state and federal grants, previously said it planned to close “sometime this year” but didn’t specify when.... Ken Notes: One more reason we need a new model to allow for actually affordable homes not subsidized homes. There are a number of nonprofits operating from grant to grant... |
Work could start by summer on apartments near former Milwaukee Walmart |
 Construction could start by late summer on an affordable apartment community near a long-closed Walmart store in Milwaukee‘s central city.The 100-unit first phase of Midtown Commons is planned for a parking lot east of North 60th Street and north of West Hope Avenue. That’s just north of the Walmart, 5825 W. Hope Ave., which closed in 2016, and south of a former Lowe’s store converted in 2018 into a distribution center for Sellars Absorbent Materials, 5800 W. Hope Ave. Gorman & Co. has applied for a construction permit for a four-story building on the parking lot’s western portion... Ken Notes: We should require that development sites have an exit strategy so that the locations do not remain vacant for years. This could be a key in providing more workforce housing in a region. And for our community development leaders this can be built into you development agreements. We almost always fail to think about what happens when, especially when a shiny new project is promising great retail, office or other use and the new tax revenue that comes with it. Did you know that Walmart typically plans for an initial occupancy period of 15 to 20 years when developing new projects. While their buildings are often designed with a specific structural lifespan of roughly 15 to 30 years... |
Officials Break Ground on Deer District Apartments |
 Fieldhouse Flats is poised to transform a vacant city block across the street from Fiserv Forum. The $117 million development, which broke ground Thursday, will bring 269 units of workforce housing and an athletic facility for students at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to a parcel bound by W. McKinley Avenue, W. Juneau Avenue, N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and N. Vel R. Phillips Avenue... ...Full Story Here Leo's notes: The project’s layered capital stack—including LIHTC equity, bonds, TIF, and institutional partnerships—shows how complex financing has become even for well-located workforce housing developments. Glad to see examples of housing development integrated into broader placemaking and economic development strategies. |
In Focus: Affordable housing |
 On this week’s “In Focus,” NY1’s Cheryl Wills discusses the housing crisis and rental rip-off hearings with Councilmember Pierina Ana Sanchez. Plus, Fund for the City of New York’s Dr. Lisette Nieves and Dr. Aldrin Bonilla highlight their upcoming “True Cost of Living” report. And Asian Americans for Equality’s Thomas Yu shares how the organization has created more affordable housing units for the community. ...Full Story Here |
About Wisconsin Workforce Housing News (WWHNews.com) |
| 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 aggregate news and highlight programs that are working to provide affordable workforce housing in Wisconsin. We advocate for state and local policies that improve the more affordable housing markets. We encourage developers to build new homes that are affordable for those working for Wisconsin while still making a fair profit on the work they do. We encourage communities and neighborhoods to become partners in meeting these needs. We highlight what others have done as a form of "Best Practices" in the State and Country. Finally, we provide direct links to resources and programs in the State. Safe, affordable housing makes a difference in the lives of children and families impacting both education and health. We are supporting affordable housing because it is good for business, good for families, good for communities, and good for Wisconsin. Ken Harwood Editor / Publisher Advocating for Wisconsin 608.334.2174 harwoodken[at]gmail.com |
List of Housing Resources |
WWHNEWS Notes: To add a resource or correct above send data and link to wwhnews.com[at]gmail.com... |
Wisconsin REALTORS® Association
