A more efficient, affordable development model helps Habitat for Humanity build more homes during a housing crisis. But some Wisconsin municipalities exclude manufactured homes from neighborhoods.
Kahya Fox knows a solution to Wisconsin’s housing crisis won’t fall from the sky. But she has seen a crane suspend one in the air.
The Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region executive director watched this summer as semitrucks pulled into the Vernon County city of Hillsboro, population 1,400. Instead of bringing materials to build a traditional home, they each carried a preassembled half of a house.
Workers removed the wheels that carried them down the interstate. Then, a crane hoisted them up and onto a concrete foundation....
...more
Leo’s notes: Habitat for Humanity’s embrace of factory-built housing in La Crosse and Hillsboro shows how innovation and compassion can meet the moment in Wisconsin’s housing crisis. By using high-quality manufactured homes, Habitat is cutting costs, building faster, and opening doors for families who might otherwise never afford a home — while proving these houses can be beautiful, durable, and community-strengthening. Yet, restrictive zoning in many municipalities still blocks such solutions, clinging to outdated stigmas about “trailers.” If Wisconsin is serious about affordability, accessibility, and equity, local governments must modernize their codes to welcome these efficient, dignified homes that give working families — like the Bessels — a true place to belong.
Share this article on your social outlets
Our Sponsors
- - Volume: 25 - WEEK: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 2:27:21 PM -