APRIL 2023

Construction season is upon us. New homes are being built and renovations being planned. However, Wisconsin doesn’t have enough housing for the people who live here. This month, I’d like to tell you about some new programs designed to ease the shortage. 

A recent study shows Wisconsin needs to build 140,000 housing units by 2030 to meet the current demand. If the state wants to attract more residents to fill its workforce needs, as many as 227,000 new housing units should be added, according to the report by Forward Analytics, the research division of the Wisconsin Counties Association. This housing shortage disproportionately impacts low-income families throughout the state, and in Wisconsin’s rural communities, affordability is a big concern for many families. It is important to maintain the current housing supply as well as adding new dwellings. In addition, residents need to know where to access rental assistance, homebuying support, financing for repairs, and resources that will help them stay in their homes if they’ve hit a financial roadblock.

This month’s Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) newsletter can help rural communities navigate the wide variety of resources available in Wisconsin, ranging from the Department of Administration’s (DOA’s) Help for Homeowners program to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority’s (WHEDA’s) home mortgage and tax credits. 

One of the new programs, the Wisconsin Tribal Supportive Housing Institute, is designed to increase the availability of housing and to speed the planning and construction process within tribal communities, both on and off tribal land. Applications are now being accepted for that program, which starts in May.

Wisconsin homeowners can also take advantage of unprecedented incentives for home energy efficiency improvements. The Office of Energy Innovation and its Focus on Energy program offer residential rebates and incentives to homeowners that not only save energy but save dollars for Wisconsin families.

Developers across the state are working to address Wisconsin’s housing crunch. This newsletter gives a rundown of the incentives and training available to encourage housing construction and rehabilitation so Wisconsin will be able to provide homes for all who want to live here.

RURAL HOUSING RESOURCES

EVENTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

This event provides the state’s entrepreneurs and startup businesses an opportunity to learn from and connect with business leaders, technical resources, and financial providers to help identify the tools needed to start and grow their business.

The conference and exhibition on sustainable transportation, infrastructure, technology, and fleet vehicles, presented by the Wisconsin Clean Cities nonprofit, will be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.