Wisconsin Workforce Housing News

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Leonardo Silva - Editor

Architect / Full Service Design Firm

608.698.3522

Ken Harwood - Publisher

Advocating for Wisconsin

608.334.2174

This Weeks Articles for 7/27/2026 ...

Tom Still: Housing, schools and grocery stores key to building a stronger rural Wisconsin...
Housing Bills from Wisconsin...
Washington County housing initiative brings back young homeowners ...
McShane Construction, Lincoln Avenue Communities Underway on Affordable Housing Development in Madison, Wisconsin...
Madison approves hundreds of affordable apartments as deadline for federal funding looms ...
Janesville considering an update to affordable housing fund policy to broaden how money is distributed ...
South Milwaukee apartment project canceled after financing shortfall ...

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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

Tom Still: Housing, schools and grocery stores key to building a stronger rural Wisconsin

WOODRUFF, Wis. – Bill Sennholz doesn’t resemble the late Jimmy Stewart, who ran the fictional Bailey Bros. Building and Loan Association in the 1946 film classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Nor is the Forward Bank chain led by Sennholz in northern Wisconsin on the cusp of bankruptcy like George Bailey’s beleaguered lender.

In fact, it’s the opposite for Forward Bank and its 15 locations because – a bit like Stewart’s movie character – Sennholz and team understand that investing wisely in the future of small towns and rural communities can pay back over time.

“Our motto is moving our communities forward and we really do it. We’re putting our money where our mouths are,” Sennholz said in a recent interview.

The strategy for doing so is embodied in what Sennholz calls “three and a half points” that can keep small towns alive, even vibrant, as depopulation threatens. Surprisingly, creating more jobs isn’t among those points.

“Jobs are not the problem. There are lots of employers here who can and will offer jobs,” Sennholz said. “In every community we’re in, it’s much more about housing availability and affordability.”...

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Ken Notes: Rural housing may be a larger problem than urban issues. We need to look at the new tools from Wisconsin to address this issue. We also need vision and leadership to use these tools effectively.

Housing Bills from Wisconsin

MADISON — Wisconsin's 2025–2026 legislative session ended with the most significant package of housing legislation since the 2023 workforce housing loan programs. On March 17 — the final day of the regular session — the Senate passed a slate of bipartisan housing bills, and Gov. Tony Evers signed them into law on April 8, 2026.

Together with the “Truth in Planning” law enacted earlier in the session, the new acts touch nearly every tool in the housing toolbox: comprehensive planning, zoning, TIF, tax credits, and direct lending.

Here is what passed, what each law does, and where to read the full text. All the links in the PDF are active and will take you to the actual bill (as signed), the “Legislative Memo” on each bill, and a third party article on each bill... ...Full Story Here

Ken Notes: Leo and I put this together, feel free to reprint and share. Leo and I are also looking present these laws with some conceptual ideas for their use to your board or council.

Washington County housing initiative brings back young homeowners

Younger Wisconsinites have been leaving the state for years in search of more affordable housing, but Washington County is starting to see more stay or come back.

County Executive Josh Schoemann said he’s seen his community struggle for years with retaining younger generations, primarily because the cost of housing has crept up to the point that looking elsewhere for a home makes financial sense. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, when Schoemann was Hartford School Board president, he saw it happening.

“Even back then the cost of owning a home, or even renting, was pretty high at that point,” he said. “And now, of course, it’s exponentially higher, and so I kind of look at all the different things that impact why somebody would live here, move here, stay here, and it’s housing, and transportation, and childcare costs and things like that. But really, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, kind of that baseline shelter, is the first real need.”

For the past few years, Washington County has been focusing on the problem by subsidizing, primarily with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, Next Generation Housing projects and help with down payments through the Heart and Homestead program, which provides up to $20,000 in assistance...

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Leo's notes: Washington County’s Next Generation Housing initiative demonstrates that workforce housing extends beyond rentals to creating attainable paths to homeownership for young workers and families. By combining lower-cost homes, down payment assistance, and public-private partnerships, the county is helping the next generation live where they work. Expanding attainable ownership opportunities continues to be a powerful workforce development strategy.

Ken Notes: This may be a model to keep on your radar screen. Imagine a community working together to retain and attract a younger workforce. Also consider the attractiveness of this to new businesses looking to grow or locate in Wisconsin.

McShane Construction, Lincoln Avenue Communities Underway on Affordable Housing Development in Madison, Wisconsin

MADISON, WIS. — Lincoln Avenue Communities and McShane Construction Co. are building Timberline Terrace, a 93-unit affordable housing community in Madison. The development is located at 4504 Verona Road on a 1.1-acre site. Units will be offered in one-, two- or three-bedroom floor plans. According to Dane County, rents are capped at 30, 50 or 80 percent of county median income (CMI). Nineteen units will be reserved for households experiencing homelessness. Amenities include a 4,000-square-foot plaza that features a playground, grills, a lounge, community room and fitness area. Knothe & Bruce Architects are the architect, and The Sigma Group is the civil engineer. Completion is slated for fall 2027.

...Full Story Here

Leo's notes: Madison’s Timberline Terrace will deliver 93 affordable homes, including units reserved for households experiencing homelessness, demonstrating how workforce housing can serve a broad spectrum of community needs. By combining income-restricted housing with supportive amenities and long-term affordability, the project reflects a growing emphasis on housing stability as the foundation for economic and community resilience.

Ken Notes: This is beginning to address our "We need to build neighborhoods" concept. We also need affordable market rate units and even upscale units as part of a comprehensive solution. We also need amenities like childcare, health care, sports fields courts and facilities, restaurants, and more...

Wisconsin Workforce Housing Resources

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

See dozens more here:

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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 approves hundreds of affordable apartments as deadline for federal funding looms

A recently approved project will bring 163 affordable units to the north side.

The Madison Plan Commission approved an affordable housing development on the city's north side to replace an aging Madison Metro Transit hub, reports Will Briggs in The Cap Times.

According to Briggs, "The timing of the developer’s request was crucial, as government funds used to assist the project were set to expire if the project was not approved by the end of this year, said Trevor Martinez, DevCo’s Midwest development manager."

The site in question is no longer in an eligible census tract as of this year due to federal changes. "The area around the former Oscar Mayer plant and Dane County Regional Airport on Madison’s north side has seen more affordable housing development than other places in recent years due in large part to the qualified census tract designation." Now, Trevor Martinez, development manager for developer DevCo, says the city will likely see fewer affordable housing projects in the area due to the loss of eligibility for federal tax credits...

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Leo's notes: Madison’s approval of 163 affordable apartments ahead of a federal funding deadline highlights how timing can be just as important as financing in workforce housing development. With changes to federal tax credit eligibility reshaping where projects can be built, communities that act quickly and align local approvals with funding opportunities will be best positioned to expand housing supply.

Janesville considering an update to affordable housing fund policy to broaden how money is distributed

JANESVILLE — The City of Janesville is eyeing changes to its affordable housing fund policy to broaden how the city can use the money.

The changes, which the city council reviews Monday, would allow the city to support a wider range of affordable housing projects as community needs evolve.

The current policy, adopted in 2022, was designed primarily to support the development of multifamily affordable rental housing. While that remains a priority, city officials say the policy’s narrow eligibility requirements have prevented the city from using the funds for other emerging affordable housing needs.

Since the policy was adopted, the city has not received an eligible project that met existing program requirements. The funds have largely remained unavailable despite continued demand for affordable housing.

The Affordable Housing Fund was established using tax-increment financing extension funds after a tax increment district was paid off...

...Full Story Here

Leo's notes: Janesville’s proposed update to its Affordable Housing Fund reflects an important shift from one-size-fits-all incentives to more flexible tools that can respond to changing market conditions. As construction costs and financing challenges evolve, communities that adapt local funding policies will be better positioned to attract workforce housing investment and maximize the impact of public dollars—another model to watch.

South Milwaukee apartment project canceled after financing shortfall

A project that could’ve brought 63 apartments and 5,000 square feet of commercial investment to a South Milwaukee property that’s been vacant for over a decade is canceled after the developer was unable to secure financing.

That’s according to South Milwaukee City Administrator Travis Wells who noted in an email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that AK Development was unable to obtain financing for the Canal Transit Lofts project at 2318 10th Ave., the site of a former gas station.

The proposal included a 64,000-plus-square-foot commercial building with 63 market-rate apartments and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space. The South Milwaukee Common Council chose the proposal in January 2023 after the city requested proposals for the site in 2022, Wells said.

The approved development agreement required AK Development to secure financing and close on the property by June 30, 2025, Wells said. At the developer’s request, the city amended the agreement to extend the deadline to March 31, 2026, to allow more time for financing...

...Full Story Here

Leo’s notes: The cancellation of South Milwaukee’s Canal Transit Lofts illustrates a growing challenge facing workforce housing: securing enough capital to move projects from approval to construction. As financing costs and funding gaps continue to reshape development economics, communities will need more flexible public-private financing tools to keep much-needed housing projects alive.

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

WisconsinDevelopment.com

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...

This Weeks Articles for 7/27/2026 ...

A recently approved project will bring 163 affordable units to the north side.

WRA Wisconsin Housing Statistics (Thanks Jon!)