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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

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Leo’s notes: Green Bay’s decision to modernize its zoning code is a meaningful signal that housing affordability is being treated as a citywide priority, not a niche issue. By legalizing more housing types in more neighborhoods—while still retaining targeted safeguards for sustainability, downtown vitality, and public oversight—the city is acknowledging a simple reality: today’s housing shortage can’t be solved with yesterday’s rules. Zoning reform alone won’t fix affordability, but it removes a major barrier, giving builders, homeowners, and small businesses the flexibility needed to add homes incrementally and responsibly across the community.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Beloit City Council has approved a $1.16 million contribution to push forward an affordable housing project, paving the way for a new apartment complex.

The Riverside Housing Project, which aims to deliver 55 low-income units, had faced a funding gap after failing to secure multiple financing grants. The recent contribution is seen as a major step forward for the project.



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Leo’s notes: Beloit’s decision to commit $1.16 million in TIF funds to keep the Riverside Housing Project moving is another reminder that affordable housing does not happen without public leadership. When gaps emerge—as they often do in workforce and low-income housing—local governments that step in help turn stalled plans into real homes for real people. With 55 units back on track, Beloit is reinforcing a simple truth playing out across Wisconsin: investing in housing is investing in economic stability, workforce retention, and the long-term health of the community.

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Ken Notes:We have a newsletter that could use a grant, and while we preach to the choir -- it is a BIG choir...

The Corliss is a new private affordable housing development in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood.

The development cost nearly $200 million, including some public funding, and offers over 500 affordable rental units. It consists of eight buildings at the site of a former landfill at 135 E. Becher Street.

Milwaukee`s District 14 Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic represents the area where The Corliss is located. She spoke with WUWM’s Eddie Morales about how the project could help address housing challenges.

Eddie Morales: The project aims to address problems like resident displacement, rising costs, and keeping aging residents in place. Can you explain the scale of those concerns and how much of an impact that city officials hope The Corliss will have?

Marina Dimitrijevic: Just like many cities across the United States, affordable housing is still something we`re really struggling with. We, as the City of Milwaukee, are thousands of units under what we need for a city our size when it comes to affordability. It`s one of the top things I hear, especially in my community.

This is a way to chip away at what is a very large-scale problem. And speaking of scale, this is a pretty large-scale project. It`s just under 600 units and every unit is affordable, meaning that it`ll be somewhat income-based. There is specifically over 100 units dedicated for older adults who want to age in place. So this is quite the right step in the right direction on what I do think will be a long worthwhile journey to making our city more affordable and accessible for everybody....

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Leo’s notes: The Corliss are not one-off solutions. If communities want teachers, service workers, seniors, and families to stay rooted where they live and work, affordable and workforce housing must become a sustained priority, not an exception.

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...

The City of Madison’s Common Council has approved nearly $14 million from the Affordable Housing Fund to support the creation of approximately 425 new rental homes across the City, with more than 260 of those offering permanent affordability to lower-income households. 

This funding is the result of the Community Development Division’s annual Request for Proposals (RFP) for Affordable Rental Housing Developments, supporting development proposals that utilize federal low-income housing tax credits.


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Act 78 clarifies and broadens tax credit eligibility, giving Wisconsin businesses more flexibility to invest in housing and childcare needs

MADISON, WI – Governor Tony Evers has signed a proposal introduced by State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) that will improve an incentive to Wisconsin businesses to invest in workforce housing and childcare.

Assembly Bill 280, which is now Act 78, builds on legislation Representative Armstrong successfully shepherded to the Governor’s desk last session.

“Wisconsin is in desperate need of affordable housing and childcare, both of which are critical to our economy,” Representative Armstrong said.

“People don’t want to work where they can’t afford to live and there’s no one to watch the kids. Last session, I introduced what became 2023 Act 143, which created an incentive for businesses to get some skin in the game by allowing them to claim the Business Development Tax Credit for up to 15% of their investments in workforce housing and childcare. However, after Act 143 took effect, I began to hear concerns from employers that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation was interpreting it more narrowly than I had intended, limiting the types of investments that could qualify.”

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Leo’s notes: By clarifying that businesses can receive tax credits for contributing to housing and childcare projects that benefit the broader community (including revolving loan funds), the state is expanding the toolbox without creating new bureaucracy. In a tight labor market where workers need places to live and families need reliable care, this flexibility helps align economic development with real-world workforce needs and reinforces housing as essential infrastructure, not a side issue.

An expansion of affordable housing took a step forward on Dec. 2 when the Sturgeon Bay Common Council agreed to commit $250,000 toward a proposed 60-unit apartment development on the city’s west side. 

The funding, drawn from the city’s affordable housing reserve, would support Gorman and Company’s project, Columbia Corner Apartments, contingent on the project securing low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

The council approved a city Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee recommendation to allocate $250,000 in affordable housing funds for the project, which would be located northeast of the intersection of South Columbia Avenue and Green Bay Road.

Ted Matkom, the lead developer for the project, appeared remotely before the council about Gorman’s plans for the site, where the company has an option to purchase through Dec. 31, 2026...

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Leo`s notes: Sturgeon Bay’s decision to commit affordable housing funds to the proposed Columbia Corner Apartments underscores a growing recognition that workforce housing is essential community infrastructure, not a secondary amenity. This investment reflects foresight: aligning land use, financing tools, and state programs to turn a challenging site into homes that support the people who keep the community running.

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...