MADISON – On Thursday, State Representative Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) and State Senator Kathy Bernier (R-Lake Hallie) re-released legislation from last session for co-sponsorship that would create a Wisconsin Workforce Housing Tax Credit to encourage the construction of new, affordable housing complexes.
“Wisconsin as a whole, but especially rural Wisconsin, has been struggling with an affordable workforce housing shortage for several years now,” Rep. Summerfield stated. “This is a continuing issue in our state, and this proposal is one part to addressing this problem.”
“Our workforce is being squeezed out by unaffordable rent and unavailable housing stock,” Senator Bernier said. “Our proposal today will be a piece in the ongoing challenge from our policymakers, businesses, local officials, and everyday citizens to ensure Wisconsin remains the top place to live, work, and raise a family.”
According to a report released by the Wisconsin REALTORs Association in conjunction with University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of urban and regional planning Dr. Kurt Paulsen in 2019, Wisconsin has seen a steady decline of house construction since 2004. WMC Foundation’s Future Wisconsin Project further identified a lack of new housing as one of Wisconsin’s five major challenges facing rural areas this past December 2020.
