This Weeks Articles for 6/15/2026 ...

1. Housing cost proposals from Wisconsin candidates for governor ...
2. Village President column: Housing has been on my mind...
3. Builders, industry group share what en­courages new home building ...
4. What’s new in Wisconsin TIF: Key changes under Acts 173 and 235...
5. Apartment Project Awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits ...
6. Baldwin leads bipartisan bill to lower housing costs for volunteer firefighters ...

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As residents grapple with rising rents and a shortage of available homes for purchase, housing has become a central theme in Wisconsin’s 2026 race for governor.

Wisconsin will need to build at least 84,000 new housing units to address the state’s housing shortage, according to a study this year by Forward Analytics, the nonpartisan research outlet for the Wisconsin Counties Association. The group called that figure a “low-end estimate,” though it’s down from the group’s previous estimate in 2023 because of a decline in the state’s working-age population.

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Leo's notes: While approaches differ, most candidates acknowledge that Wisconsin faces a significant housing shortage that is driving up both home prices and rents. The emerging consensus among candidates seems clear: Wisconsin's housing challenges can no longer be viewed as a local issue alone. Whether the proposed solutions focus on financing, zoning reform, infrastructure investment, or homeownership assistance, the discussion reflects growing recognition that housing affordability is fundamentally tied to workforce development, economic competitiveness, and population growth. The most effective long-term strategies will likely be those that expand housing supply across multiple price points while helping communities overcome the infrastructure and regulatory barriers that often prevent new housing from being built.

Ken Notes: Some of the housing "markets" are already being addressed and do not need help. Higher end homes (say those over 400K) are doing well and do not need incentives. Federal programs are in place for subsidized lower income housing. The housing problem is then more focused on market rate affordable homes from both a price point (i.e. 200K to 400K) and type of units (missing middle). If we focus on this gap in the market we will find the rest of it will be OK. I was also disappointed not to see homeowner equity addressed by any of the candidates.

Housing has been on my mind a lot this past month, so let's talk about it.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be interviewed on Wisconsin Public Radio about housing and development in Ellsworth*. It's a topic that comes up often at Village Board meetings, Community Summits, Plan Commission meetings, and even casual conversations around town. And for good reason.

Housing is one of the most significant challenges facing communities across Wisconsin, large and small, and Ellsworth is no exception...

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Leo's notes: In an era where workforce shortages and housing shortages are increasingly intertwined, local leadership and a willingness to remove barriers can be just as important as financial incentives in moving projects from concept to construction.

What You Need To Know

•     New home building starts were up about 4% between 2024 and 2025
•     Building material prices remain high, which creates a challenge for some builders
•     Luxury homebuilders, such as Victory Homes, say demand has been strong
•     WBA is optimistic that new legislation will encourage smaller home development

A lack of housing inventory generally drives up prices for buyers. In recent months, Milwaukee, Kenosha and Appleton have all been ranked by Realtor.com as some of the hottest housing markets in the country, largely due to a lack of available homes, including new-builds.  

The Wisconsin Builders Association keeps stats on new-home starts in the state. The data shows new home builds are up, but only slightly.

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Leo's notes: Builders cited elevated material costs, lot availability, and zoning requirements—particularly minimum lot sizes and density restrictions—as ongoing barriers to delivering workforce housing at attainable price points. Industry leaders are hopeful that recent state legislation and local zoning reforms will help expand opportunities for smaller, more affordable housing developments. Therefore, according to this article, the housing challenge is increasingly less about demand and more about the cost and complexity of delivering supply. While material and labor costs remain significant hurdles, local land-use policies often determine whether workforce housing can be built at all. Interesting first look into builder’s sentiments.

Ken Notes: We need to partner with developers to build workforce housing with denser neighborhoods, nicer amenities, and well designed homes. We can do this but we need to thing differently about housing and neighborhoods.

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...

Wisconsin’s 2025-2026 legislative session has introduced notable updates to tax incremental financing (TIF), including targeted reforms to affordable housing tools and the creation of a new TIF district type to spur residential development.

2025 Wisconsin Act 173

Affordable Housing Extension Expanded. Municipalities can now extend a TIF district’s life by up to two years (a doubling of the previous one-year limit) to fund costs benefiting affordable housing. All other statutory requirements to implement the extension remain unchanged....

2025 Wisconsin Act 235

Creation of Residential TIDs. Act 235 authorizes a new TID type that allows newly platted residential development without the 35 percent area cap in Mixed-Use districts.  

Development in a Residential TID must meet the following requirements:

• Limited to owner-occupied, single-family or two-family residences.
• Lot sizes for single-family residences may not exceed 7,500 square feet, with a maximum lot width of 70 feet and a maximum 10-foot side yard setback.
• Lot sizes for two-family residences may not exceed 12,500 square feet, with a maximum lot width of 80 feet and a maximum 10-foot side yard setback.
• No single-story residence can be larger than 1,500 square feet.
• No two-story residence can be larger than 2,000 square feet...

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Leo's notes: These reforms represent one of the most meaningful housing policy changes Wisconsin has enacted in recent years. While tax credits and grants often receive the most attention, local infrastructure costs frequently determine whether housing projects move forward. By expanding affordable housing TIF tools and creating Residential TIDs focused on smaller homes, Wisconsin is providing communities with new mechanisms to support starter homes and workforce housing. The real test will be whether municipalities embrace these tools proactively and align zoning, land-use planning, and infrastructure investments to convert policy changes into actual housing production.

Ken Notes: We are getting closer to addressing the issues. Would still like to see provisions for public amenities and quality urban design and review. We need to build neighborhoods not just houses...

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) announced that the Columbia Corners apartment project, which calls for constructing a 60-unit building for affordable housing on a vacant lot at South Columbia Avenue and Green Bay Road in Sturgeon Bay, has been awarded $1.3 million in low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) for 2026.

Gorman and Company wants to construct the mixed-income building targeting families earning between 30-80% of the area median income, with LIHTC through WHEDA as the primary financing.

The Common Council last December committed $250,000 from the city’s affordable housing reserve funds to the project, contingent on it securing the tax credits...

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Leo's notes: The project reflects a growing partnership between local governments and developers to address Door County’s persistent workforce housing shortage through public incentives and state housing programs. The LIHTC award from WHEDA highlights the importance of housing tax credits as one of the few tools capable of making affordable housing financially feasible in high-cost markets like Door County. Equally important is the role of local government partnership—from land contributions to development support—which can significantly improve a project's competitiveness for state funding.

MADISON (WKOW) — U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday to lower housing costs for volunteer firefighters and first responders.

The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act aims to help recruit and retain more volunteer first responders, especially in rural and underserved communities. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 65% of firefighters nationwide are volunteers.

"Our volunteer first responders risk their lives every single day to protect their communities from fires, accidents, natural disasters, and so much more – all out of the goodness of their hearts and commitment to their communities," Baldwin said in a statement. "We need to be doing more to support these folks, grow this workforce, and keep our communities safe."...

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Leo's notes: The proposal highlights an often-overlooked connection between housing and community resilience. Many rural communities depend on volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders, yet housing shortages can make it difficult to recruit and retain these critical volunteers. Policies that align housing affordability with workforce and public safety needs recognize that housing is more than an economic issue—it is foundational infrastructure that supports the services communities rely on every day.

Ken Notes: I understand focusing on a vertical market to acquire votes - BUT what about teachers and nurses - not to mention service and retail workers. We are advocating for all of these not to mention the Barista that makes your coffee...

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...