...Full Story Here

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

A dozen bills, some aimed at addressing the need for affordable workforce housing according to their Republican authors, passed the Assembly’s Housing and Real Estate Committee Thursday, with all but three gaining bipartisan support.

Several of the measures have already been put on the tentative calendar for the Assembly floor session scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7.

AB 182, would modify Wisconsin’s low-income housing tax credit and require the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to ensure that 35% of the tax credits it allocates are for projects in rural areas of Wisconsin.

AB 449 would require local municipalities with zoning to permit accessory dwelling units on the property of existing single family homes.

AB 451 would create residential tax incremental districts, to encourage residential developments with the resulting increases in property tax collection used to fund infrastructure investment. That measure passed the panel 12-2.

AB 454 would establish a workforce home loan fund through WHEDA to provide gap financing for new construction or significant rehabilitation of a single family home for the borrower.

AB 455 would establish a grant program at WHEDA for the owners of apartment buildings to offset converting their properties to condominiums. In an unanimous vote, the committee approved an amendment from state Rep. Lori Palmeri (D-Oshkosh) requiring grant recipients to give current occupants in a building being converted an opportunity to purchase their unit....

   ...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: A dozen housing bills advanced this week, signaling rare bipartisan momentum on Wisconsin’s workforce housing crisis. Proposals range from expanding WHEDA tax credits in rural areas to authorizing ADUs and creating workforce home loan funds. Advocates note these measures show progress, but real impact will hinge on consistent implementation and local zoning alignment. For further explanation of each bill introduced, please click article link.

Ken Notes: Save and share this article. Please note housing is one of the only issues in Wisconsin receiving bipartisan support on several fronts. Many of these issues Leo and I have been advocating for some time now...

A series of bills aimed at addressing what lawmakers called a “crisis” in the lack of workforce housing would redirect tens of millions of dollars from past workforce housing initiatives.

Wisconsin in 2023 set aside $525 million for affordable housing development loans aimed at growing the state’s housing stock and getting new homebuyers into housing. But some of the programs included haven’t seen significant use two years down the road. 

The last state budget set aside $100 million for the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan funding program. Rental property owners could get up to $20,000 per rental unit for upgrades on apartments above retail spaces. But Sen. Dan Feyen during an Assembly Housing and Real Estate Committee public hearing yesterday said only $19 million of that has been doled out so far...

   ...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: Wisconsin lawmakers are reworking unspent housing funds to spur ownership and expand options for working families. The proposed bills would redirect millions toward condo conversions, first-time homebuyer loans, and new workforce housing TIF districts—an encouraging sign of renewed focus. Still, it is worth noting that real progress will depend on aligning these incentives with local zoning reform and sustained funding.

Ken Notes: I wish we could use these funds for just two thing. First allow communities to buy land and plan affordable neighborhoods with a mix of smaller affordable homes, schools, retail, and amenities. Second work with banks to create low interest for lower cost homes. Imagine a 3% rate on 150 to 200K homes for first time buyers or seniors downsizing. These two programs could be game changing in workforce housing.

Churches in Wisconsin are now eligible for property redevelopment grants from a program organizers hope will spread to other states.

The Good Next Step Grant Program provides congregations with awards of up to $40,000 to create affordable housing or a mix of housing and community gathering spaces on existing parcels. Participants also receive expert support with architectural design, site development, zoning reviews and financial analysis.

“This program allows churches to buy those services to keep control of their land and use that land as they feel called to use it,” said Mark Elsdon, co-founder of RootedGood, a nonprofit group that provides training and productivity resources for faith-based groups, and organizer of the grant program launched in August...   ...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: A new grant program is helping Wisconsin churches turn underused land into affordable and workforce housing. By funding pre-development planning and pairing congregations with design and finance experts, the initiative empowers faith communities to shape local housing solutions. This is a reminder that housing progress often starts with trusted community anchors.

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

   ...Full Story Here

Nate Notes: to be included as a Workforce Housing resource email us a link and a brief note to: wwhnews.com@gmail.com...

CHIPPEWA FALLS (WQOW) - Members from a statewide agency visited Chippewa Falls this morning to learn about a successful alternative housing solution.

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, known as DSPS, toured Hope Village. The event is part of their work to explore trends, innovations, and needs in homebuilding. Hope Village provides transitional and affordable workforce housing to low-income people and families in the Chippewa Valley area.

DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth said this project is a great example of finding solutions on a local level that could be implemented statewide...

   ...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: Hope Village in Chippewa Falls shows how community-led models can fill critical workforce housing gaps through collaboration and creativity. As state officials study updates to the Uniform Dwelling Code, projects like this highlight how flexible standards can help replicate small-scale, affordable solutions statewide—a model to watch.

Ken notes: We can do so much better architecturally and plat wise. Open space, bike / Ped access -- not trailer parks but rather small home neighborhoods. Check this out...

Wisconsin residents feel stuck as private equity buys up manufactured housing parks

Priced out of traditional homes during an affordability crisis, many in Wisconsin have found another way to pursue an ownership dream.

Experts estimate that more than 100,000 Wisconsin residents live in manufactured homes, the more accurate name for what many call mobile homes or trailers — structures that make up the country’s largest portion of unsubsidized low-income housing. Many live in parks where they own their homes but rent the land beneath them. 

But Wisconsin’s government is failing to enforce basic protections for residents at a time when private equity firms are buying up parks to maximize profits, a Wisconsin Watch/WPR investigation found...

   ...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: This is so true and happening across the state. These private equity firms are buying these parks as cash producing assets with no real skin in the game or feet on the ground. If current tenants fail, the firms can put in a nicer park model and make even more money by renting that as well as the lot. We need communities and housing advocates to buy these parks and turn these places into something special. There are great examples of well developed and run parks across the US.

THE BLUEPRINT:

• McShane Construction to build 50-unit affordable housing in Madison.
  
  
• The Conway at Huxley Yards is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026.
  
  
• Project includes fitness room, community room and 63 parking spaces.
  
  
• Designed for Green Built Homes Gold and Energy Star certification.

An affordable apartment community with 50 units is coming to Madison.

Rosemont, Ill.-based McShane Construction Co. on Wednesday announced that its Wisconsin office will build The Conway at Huxley Yards for developer Lincoln Avenue Communities, an affiliate of Lincoln Avenue Capital. This will be McShane’s fourth project with the developer, said Alison Gorham, vice president and director of Wisconsin operations at McShane.

“We’re excited to watch this development come to life and provide much-needed affordable housing in Madison,” she added.

The project is located on a 1.7-acre site at 1846 Commercial Avenue. It will feature 50 units, 63 parking spaces, and the complex will be 72,446 square feet, the contractor said. The Conway is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026. The project cost and rents weren’t shared.

   ...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: Madison’s upcoming Conway at Huxley Yards adds 50 affordable units on a compact urban site, continuing momentum from developers expanding workforce housing across Wisconsin. With green certifications and efficient design, the project shows how sustainable infill can meet both affordability and environmental goals.

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.


   ...Full Story Here

   ...Full Story Here

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