| 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: 3/23/2026 9:47:48 PM | ||
| ‘They are squeezing everybody in this park to death’: Owners of manufactured homes get little protection as private equity moves in | ||
Leo's notes: As private equity increasingly acquires parks, residents — who often cannot afford to relocate their homes — face growing instability with few clear avenues for recourse. This highlights a critical gap: preserving affordability without enforcing standards is not true housing stability. If manufactured housing is to remain a viable part of the affordability solution, Wisconsin must modernize oversight, strengthen tenant protections and treat this sector as essential infrastructure — not an afterthought. Ken Notes: If the Wisconsin Legislature really wanted to make a difference in housing in Wisconsin they would draft regulations requiring investors to maintain clean safe home sites for their residents or lose the property. Also provide for a safe way to report abuse without fear of reprisal. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:17:42 PM | ||
| Northmarq Arranges $23M Sale and $18.265M Acquisition Financing for Douglas Terrace Apartments in Wisconsin | ||
Leo's notes: transactions like this highlight a key dynamic: existing workforce housing is not only in short supply, but increasingly viewed as a stable, high-performing investment opportunity. While capital flowing into these assets reinforces their value, it also reinforces the urgency for communities to preserve and expand workforce housing inventory so affordability is not eroded as demand — and investor interest — continues to rise. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:23:40 PM | ||
| New affordable housing in Duluth | ||
Leo's notes: As communities look to reduce homelessness long-term, investments like this demonstrate how housing, health and social services must work together to create lasting outcomes. Affordable housing alone is not enough for the most vulnerable populations — supportive services must be integrated into the model. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:08:56 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: 3/23/2026 9:48:42 PM | ||
| New DeForest affordable housing program utilizes multi-pronged approach | ||
Leo's notes: this is a strong example of using TIF not just for projects, but as a sustained housing ecosystem tool — supporting both supply and stability. For growing communities like DeForest, balancing new development with resident retention will be critical to maintaining long-term affordability and community continuity. | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:25:40 PM | ||
| Cohousing Promises Lower Costs. Why Hasn’t It Worked in the US? | ||
Notes: Leo's notes: While traditionally costly in the U.S., emerging models that pair cohousing with tools like community land trusts or retrofit existing neighborhoods are beginning to lower barriers and expand access. Simply put, affordability is not just about unit cost, but about shared resources, reduced space needs, and social infrastructure. If integrated with proven affordability tools, cohousing could become a meaningful part of the “missing middle” solution — blending housing supply with stronger, more resilient communities... | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:21:01 PM | ||
| USDA funds home repairs investments in 11 Wisconsin counties | ||
Leo's notes: Local partners, including Habitat for Humanity affiliates, will use the funding to improve safety, energy efficiency and accessibility for dozens of households. This program is a reminder that preservation is one of the most cost-effective housing strategies available— especially in rural markets where new construction is limited. Helping residents stay safely in their homes not only stabilizes communities, but also protects existing affordable housing stock that would be far more expensive to replace... | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:27:38 PM | ||
| Work could start by summer on apartments near former Milwaukee Walmart | ||
Ken Notes: We should require that development sites have an exit strategy so that the locations do not remain vacant for years. This could be a key in providing more workforce housing in a region. And for our community development leaders this can be built into you development agreements. We almost always fail to think about what happens when, especially when a shiny new project is promising great retail, office or other use and the new tax revenue that comes with it. Did you know that Walmart typically plans for an initial occupancy period of 15 to 20 years when developing new projects. While their buildings are often designed with a specific structural lifespan of roughly 15 to 30 years... | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 26 - Wk: 13 Date: 3/23/2026 9:43:07 PM | ||
| About Wisconsin Workforce Housing News (WWHNews.com) | ||
| Click to Display / Share This Note - Vol: 10 - Wk: 125 Date: 3/23/2026 9:49:04 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 7:30:59 PM |