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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

Where we live shapes how we live—our independence, our health, our social connections, and our ability to stay rooted in the communities we love. That’s why AARP Wisconsin has a keen interest in housing, and why we’re proud to support Madison Housing Week (May 3–8) and La Crosse Housing Week (May 3–9) in 2026.

Across Wisconsin, and nationwide, most adults want to remain in their homes and communities as they age. Yet many worry their communities don’t offer the housing choices or supports needed to make that possible over time. Housing Weeks in Madison and La Crosse create space for communities to learn, share ideas, and explore solutions that expand options, strengthen neighborhoods, and support people of all ages...

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Ken Notes: See you there!

Oregon, Wisconsin-based development firm Gorman & Company plans to build a 200-unit affordable housing development next to the former Walmart store at 5825 W. Hope Ave within the Midtown Center retail complex on Milwaukee’s northwest side. The plan advanced Monday after the city’s Plan Commission approved a zoning change for the project.

The housing development, named Midtown Commons, will consist of two four-story buildings, each containing 100 apartment units of 25 one-bedroom units, 40 two-bedroom units and 35 three-bedroom units. The project site is east of North 60th Street and north of West Hope Ave and is currently a surface parking lot of the former Walmart store building. The project will span across 10 acres of land and is part of a broader multi-phase redevelopment of the site, developers said...

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Leo's notes: Milwaukee’s Midtown Commons proposal marks a major step toward reinvesting in underutilized retail land, with the project combining family-sized units, service partnerships, and public-facing amenities—both a housing solution and a catalyst for broader corridor revitalization. As seen in a few instances now, the market is heading towards large-scale affordable housing delivered through retail-to-residential conversions. As aging commercial sites lose viability, they represent one of the most scalable opportunities to add meaningful housing supply in built-out urban areas.

MADISON, WI – Yesterday, State Senator Brad Pfaff held a press conference in La Crosse, highlighting Senate Democrats’ commitment to addressing Wisconsin’s housing crisis and cutting costs.Senator Pfaff was joined by La Crosse County Board Supervisors Grant Mathu and Kelly Liebold, who emphasized that housing remains one of the top issues in their communities.

The four bills introduced, and part of the Health and Housing legislative package, included expanding the Homestead Tax Credit, banning hedge funds from buying single-family homes, banning algorithmic rent hikes, and improving Wisconsin’s housing stock...



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Leo's notes: Brad Pfaff’s “Affordable Wisconsin” legislative package ties housing affordability to other household pressures—healthcare, childcare, and groceries—positioning housing as part of a wider cost-of-living strategy. While these measures may provide short-term relief or market stabilization, long-term impact will still depend on whether they are paired with sustained efforts to increase housing production across Wisconsin.

Ken Notes: Interesting, but we still need a simple plan that allows local government units to buy and improve land, and then make denser properties available to builders, developers, or manufactures for homes priced well under $250K. New owners must occupy the homes for a specific period of time or repay the community. A modified version of TIF could reimburse the community for up front investment and help finance neighborhood amenities like parks, day care, health care facilities, and grocery...

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Leo's notes: Cambridge is taking an important early step toward higher-density housing by rezoning land near Westgate Court to “neighborhood mixed use,” opening the door for a potential 135–155 unit development. While no specific project is approved, the move signals a shift toward allowing duplexes, multifamily buildings, and mixed-use structures in a land-constrained community. For small and mid-sized communities, decisions like this are increasingly unavoidable—without zoning flexibility, housing supply stalls; with it, communities must actively plan for infrastructure, services, and growth management.

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...

MADISON, Wis. — Providing more “affordable housing” is a popular campaign slogan these days in Wisconsin and across America, but it’s not as simple as proclaiming the goal and wishing it into reality. A mix of factors make it harder for people to find the shelter they want or need — but untangling those economic knots can make housing more “attainable.”

That was a core message Wednesday to the annual Wisconsin Economic Forecast Luncheon, where the chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders laid out an array of issues that are tugging in opposite directions on the “supply and demand” curve for housing of all types.

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Leo's notes: At a recent housing-focused event in Madison, economist Robert Dietz of the National Association of Home Builders outlined the complex forces driving housing affordability challenges—ranging from regulatory costs (now nearing 25% of a home’s price) and tariffs on materials to elevated interest rates, labor shortages, and demographic pressures. To me, the takeaway is clear: there is no single lever to fix affordability. Progress will depend on coordinated action across regulation, workforce development, financing, and production—because in today’s environment, housing costs are not driven by one issue, but by the cumulative weight of many.

Ken Notes: This is a must read, if a paywall prevents this open a private or incognito window and try again. remember to support you local media outlets.

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Leo's notes: Green Bay’s latest neighborhood concept reflects a shift toward master-planned, mixed-product neighborhoods that integrate recreation, walkability, and housing choice rather than separating them.It’s encouraging to see an evolution of communities moving beyond unit counts alone and focusing on livability as a driver of long-term value and demand. If replicated, this model can help attract residents while still delivering the range of housing types needed to address supply gaps. A model worth following!

Applications Due June 12 with Up to $2 Million Available Per Project

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) has opened the application period for its 2026 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund. With $51 million available and up to $2 million per project, the program supports the development and preservation of affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin.

AHP grants help fund the acquisition, new construction, or rehabilitation of rental and owner-occupied housing. Through the program, FHLBank Chicago financial institution members partner with developers and community organizations to help move projects forward and expand access to quality housing.

“The need for affordable housing continues to outpace supply in many communities,” said Katie Naftzger, SVP and Community Investment Officer, FHLBank Chicago. “Through AHP, we’re able to partner with our members to move critical projects forward, supporting housing that might not otherwise be built and helping expand access for individuals and families.”...


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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...