Wisconsin Workforce Housing News


Ken Harwood
Advocating for Wisconsin
HarwoodKen [at] gmail.com
Cell 608.334.2174



Commentary
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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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Economic development overview: Becker gives updates on housing, workforce, industrial

WATERTOWN — The City’s Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives presented a vast overview of economic development in the City to the Common Council on Tuesday. Mason Becker’s presentation included housing projects, future industrial use and more.

The City’s largest housing development in progress continues to be the Rock River Ridge, on the former Bethesda property at 700 Hoffman Dr., with 188 total units. 16 homes have already been sold and Harbor Homes is a year ahead of schedule on purchasing property lots from the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, due to demand.


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Ken Notes: Great Read. Economic development and Workforce Housing are now tied together and need to be addressed as one solution. A business will not seriously consider a project if there is a substantial shortage of workforce housing in the area. Sustaining larger workforce housing projects requires a demand for quality housing that is affordable to the entry level worker. It is not the chicken nor the egg --but rather the roost that matters most.

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Charities fight against Ozaukee affordable housing shortage that`s driving up rent prices

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. — Charities in Ozaukee County continue to work against a shortage of affordable housing in the area.

Joana Hemschemeyer works for the local chapter of Family Promise, an organization working to combat housing insecurity in the area, even among professions like teaching and firemen.

"The workers who are living here in Ozaukee County can`t afford to live here," Hemschemeyer said.

Family Promise operates a shelter outside of downtown Port Washington. The organization works directly with landlords to help individuals and working families find homes, particularly those who have experienced setbacks like job loss, medical debt, car accidents or criminal records...


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Notes: Leo’s notes: Ozaukee County’s housing shortage is pricing out even its essential workers—teachers, firefighters, and families striving to stay afloat. Family Promise’s work highlights the urgent need for more housing options and a deeper understanding of local needs. A countywide housing study is a smart first step toward long-term solutions that ensure stability, dignity, and opportunity for all residents.

Ken Notes: I would like to see the focus more on those with jobs who are often lost in the system. Social programs exist for those with job loss, medical debt, car accidents or criminal records. There are few if any affordable market rate homes, condos, multiplexes, or modern developments with smaller lots and homes with shared amenities for service and retail workers.

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Milwaukee Department of City Development proposes two new TIDs to create new housing opportunities Downtown and in the Bronzeville neighborhood

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s Department of City Development (DCD) is proposing the creation of two new tax incremental districts (TIDs) to support the development of affordable and workforce housing, generating new homes on the site of a long-vacant tax foreclosed commercial building on King Drive and adaptive reuse of an underutilized office tower in the heart of Downtown. 

On July 3, the City published a public hearing notice for TID 127 (100 East Wisconsin) and TID 128 (Compass Lofts). 

In April, DCD released updated Tax Incremental Financing for Housing Development Guidelines. 

The department’s updated policy prioritizes projects that create affordable and workforce housing options and developments that repurpose underutilized central business district office buildings into residential properties. 

The guidelines advance City goals of creating new housing options that are accessible to a wide range of Milwaukee residents...


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Leo’s notes: Milwaukee’s proposed TIDs for 100 East Wisconsin and Compass Lofts reflect a bold, targeted use of public financing to create affordable and workforce housing where it`s needed most. By transforming vacant and underused buildings into vibrant residential hubs, the city is advancing equity, preserving community, and proving that thoughtful redevelopment can benefit both existing residents and future growth.

Ken Notes: With development agreements to insure quality development and large projects to serve as the economic engine TIF can be a wonderful tool for housing projects. But we need to clearly define affordable and rules to ensure units are built well...

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Du-plex the right thing, city officials urge

New zoning package calls for increased density in single-family neighborhoods

Madison’s housing stock, like that of most American cities, was shaped by the post-World War II economic boom.

Cars were becoming the transportation mode of choice and families were moving to the suburbs. Madison’s new neighborhoods reflected these changes — places like Hill Farms and Hoyt Park, both largely developed in the mid-1950s, had larger lot sizes, were more reliant on automobiles for transit and consisted predominantly of single-family homes.

In 1966, Madison’s city council — overseeing a population of 166,000 — enacted the city’s third zoning code. For the next 50 years it pushed city development toward single-family housing. 

“Our 1966 code was driven to orient more towards suburban growth,” says Matt Tucker, director of the city’s building inspection division and the city’s former zoning administrator. “Density was discouraged in many ways.”..



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Randolph transforms former school into affordable, rural housing

MADISON, WI. JULY 3, 2025– The once-silent hallways of a historic school are echoing with new life in Randolph. There are plans to transform the former elementary and middle school, which has been largely vacant for over eight years, into a 31-unit apartment complex—offering affordable housing and community growth to the rural community.

It’s a move that’s creating a buzz in the community of 1,800 in Columbia County.

“There is a lot of excitement in Randolph with the school renovation,” said Village Trustee Nicholas Weinberger. “We often hear comments from people saying they would love to move here, but they just can’t find housing. That’s coming from young families, retirees — really people at all stages of life."
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Leo’s notes: Randolph’s transformation of a long-vacant school into affordable housing is a model of rural revitalization done right. By preserving local character while expanding housing options for all life stages, this project strengthens the community, supports economic growth, and demonstrates how reinvestment in underused spaces can fuel a more resilient future for small towns across Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin Workforce Housing Resources

ENABLING BETTER PLACES: A USER’S GUIDE TO WISCONSIN NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABILITY

 Wisconsin REALTORS® Association

WISCAP Affordable Housing Network

Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources

Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp

WEDA Legislative Tracker

NRA Housing Needs By State / Wisconsin
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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...

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New Windows For Cherry Lanes Affordable Housing Project

As part of the project at Cherry Lanes to construct apartments on the building’s second floor, Sturgeon Bay’s Aesthetic Design and Site Plan Review Board on June 23 approved replacing windows on the rear of the building at 134 N. 4th Ave. with larger ones that are 32 inches by 70 inches with colors and materials similar to the existing windows.

Cherry Lanes property owner Moira Callan sought a permit for the new windows to alter their sizes “for appropriate natural light and consistency throughout the building.”

City Planner/Zoning Administrator Stephanie Servia said the new windows, for which there will be no changes to the front of the building facing North 4th Avenue, “do not appear to take away from the historic character of the building” with the windows being replaced with the same style of windows.

The project to build eight workforce apartment units on the second floor was awarded a $160,000 Restore Main Street loan through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to rehabilitate affordable housing. To receive a Restore Main Street low-interest-rate loan, the development must provide affordable rents, which must remain affordable for at least 10 years following occupancy...

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Leo’s notes: Sturgeon Bay’s Cherry Lanes redevelopment is a smart example of preserving character while creating much-needed workforce housing. With WHEDA’s Restore Main Street support and thoughtful design updates, this project blends historic preservation with modern affordability—helping downtown remain vibrant and livable for all.

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Economic development overview: Becker gives updates on housing, workforce, industrial

WATERTOWN — The City’s Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives presented a vast overview of economic development in the City to the Common Council on Tuesday. Mason Becker’s presentation included housing projects, future industrial use and more.

The City’s largest housing development in progress continues to be the Rock River Ridge, on the former Bethesda property at 700 Hoffman Dr., with 188 total units. 16 homes have already been sold and Harbor Homes is a year ahead of schedule on purchasing property lots from the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, due to demand.

Lumin Terrace (Horizon) is beginning work this summer on 92 apartment units and White Oak has already constructed one twin home, with a second currently in the works...


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Leo’s notes: Watertown is making visible strides in housing development—but aligning those efforts with true community affordability remains the next test. As new units break ground across a range of project types, ensuring that homes are accessible to the workers, families, and longtime residents who sustain the city must remain central to economic growth.

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FHLBank Chicago Makes $3 Million Available for Community First® Developer Program to Support Emerging Talent in Affordable Housing

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) today opened its applications for the 2025 Community First® Developer Program (Developer Program). Now in its fourth year, the program provides grants to organizations supporting career development opportunities in the affordable housing development industry across Illinois and Wisconsin. 

Sean O’Brien, Principal at Northpointe Development II Corp., and Cedric D. Thurman, EVP and Group Head of Community Investment at FHLBank Chicago, celebrate a $250,000 Developer Program grant awarded to Northpointe to support emerging talent in affordable housing development.

In 2025, FHLBank Chicago will award up to $3 million through its financial institution members, with individual grant amounts ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. Applications are open now through Friday, August 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CT....


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Notes:

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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.

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.

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



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List of Housing Resources


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

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