New coalition aims to boost home ownership for Wisconsin`s tribal communities

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- A new coalition is being launched to help address housing needs for tribal communities in the Badger State.

It`s called the Wisconsin Native Homeownership Coalition and is backed by Oneida Nation-owned Bay Bank.

"Really, we`ve had this issue in Indian Country for decades, with overcrowding and not enough housing stock," Wisconsin Indigenous Housing & Economic Development Corporation CEO Fern Orie said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the home ownership rate in Wisconsin is 67.9% for all residents. For Native Americans in Wisconsin, it`s around 57%.

Now, with the creation of the Wisconsin Native Homeownership Coalition, work is being done to increase housing supply and affordability for tribal communities.

"We really want to address the key issues and come up with some fantastic solutions that will work for our people," Orie said...

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Leo’s notes: The launch of the Wisconsin Native Homeownership Coalition marks a pivotal shift in addressing the chronic housing shortfall for tribal communities. This initiative is notable not only for its focus on expanding homeownership and affordable rentals, but also for its long-term strategy: building a skilled local workforce to construct and maintain housing stock. Pairing supply with self-reliance ensures solutions don’t just meet today’s need but create generational stability and opportunity.