Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signs Assembly Bill 454, advancing housing
access across the state
MADISON, Wis. (April 9, 2026) — Habitat for Humanity of Wisconsin, a leader in affordable
housing solutions, is proud to have played an instrumental role in the development and crafting
of Assembly Bill 454, now Wisconsin Act 239. For two years, Habitat for Humanity affiliates
throughout Wisconsin worked together to set the precedent for an affordable housing solution
that will work in rural and urban areas all across the state.
This bill, authored by Sen. Jesse James and Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, establishes a workforce
home loan program administered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development
Authority (WHEDA), designed to help working families achieve homeownership near their
places of employment. By providing supplemental, zero-interest financing, AB454 makes
housing more accessible and affordable for Wisconsin’s workforce.
There is a significant gap between what an average family can afford to pay for a home and
what homes are actually selling for. In many parts of Wisconsin, one in five households is cost-
burdened, paying more than 30% of their income for housing, leaving families short of
necessities like food, clothing, childcare, education and healthcare. The average first-time
homebuyer is 40 years old in the United States.
This bill seeks to close the gap through 0% financing to give more families the chance to afford
the American dream of homeownership and begin building equity and wealth. This innovative
approach is expected to save eligible homebuyers up to $270 per month, making
homeownership a reality for more families across the state.
“Habitat for Humanity of Wisconsin, together with its 29 local Habitat affiliates, continues to play
a leading role in addressing the state’s housing crisis and expanding pathways to
homeownership. This legislation builds on that leadership by strengthening our commitment at
the state level to support long-term economic stability and increase access to affordable
housing. By establishing a workforce home loan program, we are directly addressing the
barriers that too many first-time homebuyers face, from rising costs to limited access to credit,”
explained Peter Lewandowski, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Wisconsin. “This initiative not
only empowers individuals and families to achieve the milestone of owning a home but also
helps build stronger communities and a more resilient workforce across our state. It is an
investment in both our people and our future.”
Currently, there is not enough housing to meet the demand for it across the entire state. The passage of this bill is an important milestone in Wisconsin’s efforts to expand access to
affordable housing. The passage of AB454 reflects a collaborative effort among advocates,
organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the bipartisan support of several lawmakers,
including:
Authors Reps. Jessie Rodriguez and Senators Jesse James
Co-Sponsored by
Representatives: Brown, Brooks, Doyle, Emerson, Fitzgerald, Goeben, Gundrum, Gustafson,
Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Melotik, Miresse, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, O’Connor, Ortiz-Velez,
Palmeri, Piwowarczyk, Rivera-Wagner, Snodgrass, Snyder, Stubbs, Subeck, Summerfield,
Tusler, and Udell
Senators: Dassler-Alfheim, Feyen, L. Johnson, Marklein, Pfaff and Ratcliff
Recognizing that housing challenges transcend county lines, Habitat for Humanity affiliates
across Wisconsin joined forces, uniting their voices and shared experiences to spotlight the
need for innovative solutions at the state level. The Habitat’s model is built on partnership,
where homeowners invest their own time, effort and resources into achieving homeownership
through a zero-interest mortgage.
Photos included.
Gov. Tony Evers signs Assembly Bill 454 into law at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.
Gov. Evers (Center) with (Left to Right) Reps. Dan Knodl, Jessie Rodriguez, Peter Lewandowski and son Leo, and Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner.
