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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

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will require more than expanding subsidies — it will take tackling structural barriers like restrictive zoning, outdated codes, and fragmented local rules that keep supply tight and prices high.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.

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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.

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.”...

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...

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.

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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

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...