| Wisconsin Workforce Housing News | ||
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 | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 10 - Wk: 100 Date: 11/10/2025 3:28:12 PM | ||
| Can ‘cottage courts’ provide more affordable housing in Madison? | ||
Leo’s notes: Madison’s move to legalize cottage courts is exactly the kind of gentle, incremental density cities need if they’re serious about affordability without sacrificing neighborhood character. Clusters of 6–8 small homes around shared green space can open up ownership to teachers, service workers, downsizing seniors, and multigenerational households — people who are currently priced out of single-family districts but don’t want (or need) a big apartment building. The challenge will be making the numbers pencil out on land and construction costs, but if Madison pairs this zoning change with land trusts, tax-increment tools, or nonprofit partners, cottage courts could become a real “missing middle” option instead of a curiosity. Ken Notes: We also need to consider design and amenities as we increase density. Like nicer apartments, smaller or manufactured homes can be very comfortable to live in. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 1:41:45 PM | ||
| Green Bay considering $750k in ARPA money to help pay for JBS site`s urban barn | ||
| Leo’s notes: Green Bay’s east side redevelopment shows how housing can anchor broader community well-being. As the city weighs ARPA funding for an “urban barn” within the new JBS Park neighborhood, the project illustrates that affordable housing doesn’t stand alone—it flourishes when paired with access to food, jobs, and shared community spaces. With 95 workforce apartments underway and more planned, Green Bay is redefining how local investments can connect housing, health, and opportunity in ways that strengthen both families and the local economy. Ken Notes: Like I said, amenities can bring much to a project. Apartments have been doing this for decades, it is time for neighborhoods to step up. I like the idea of mixing food, health, recreation and more into our communities... | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 1:53:58 PM | ||
| FHLBank Chicago Awards $52 Million in Affordable Housing Grants to Strengthen Communities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 3:00:03 PM | ||
| ‘Finally ours’: Factory-built homes help families realize ownership dreams. But stigma and barriers persist. | ||
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. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 2:27:21 PM | ||
| Wisconsin Workforce Housing Resources | ||
| Nate Notes: to be included as a Workforce Housing resource email us a link and a brief note to: wwhnews.com@gmail.com... | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 10 - Wk: 125 Date: 8/21/2025 12:05:28 PM | ||
| Could County Create Affordable Housing Loan Fund? | ||
Leo’a notes: Milwaukee County’s exploration of a revolving loan fund marks a promising shift toward long-term, self-sustaining housing finance. Unlike one-time grants, these funds recycle repayments into new projects—helping local governments close financing gaps and move faster than federal programs allow. With models like Montgomery County, Maryland’s $100 million fund already proving that public capital can build mixed-income housing and retain local control, Milwaukee’s interest signals an important evolution in how the region could approach affordability, equity, and ownership. The challenge now is identifying seed funding—but the payoff could be a durable tool that multiplies public investment for decades to come. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 2:16:12 PM | ||
| One of two big affordable housing projects slated for Beloit won`t happen | ||
Leo’s notes: Beloit’s stalled housing deal underscores how fragile the pipeline for affordable and workforce housing remains — even when local governments are ready to invest. With $3 million back on the table after a major project fell through, the city has a renewed opportunity to steer those dollars toward developments that truly move the needle for middle-income families. Rising rents and sluggish new construction are squeezing Beloit’s working households, while neighboring towns see record growth. Redirecting these funds quickly and strategically could help rebalance that trend — keeping Beloit competitive, livable, and within reach for the people who sustain its economy. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 2:14:12 PM | ||
| City of Wausau greenlights affordable housing, outdoor recreation projects | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 25 - Wk: 46 Date: 11/10/2025 2:54:15 PM | ||
| About Wisconsin Workforce Housing News (WWHNews.com) | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 10 - Wk: 125 Date: 12/27/2024 1:52:23 PM | ||
| List of Housing Resources | ||
| WWHNEWS Notes: To add a resource or correct above send data and link to wwhnews.com[at]gmail.com... | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 11 - Wk: 125 Date: 9/2/2025 12:30:59 PM |