Regional Housing News - March 2026

IN THE NEWS

Addressing Racial Disparities in Housing and Homeownership

Fact Sheet and Presentation Slides Now Available

Down Payment Assistance Funding

SAVE THE DATE!

2nd Annual Dane County Regional Housing Strategy Meeting

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 Alliant Energy Center, 6:00 pm

Dane County Executive Announces New ProHousing

Grant Program, RFP Open!

Community Updates

Housing Events & Job Opportunities

In the News...

Addressing Racial Discrimination in

Housing & Homeownership

RHN Webinar Presentation Slides and Fact Sheet Now Available!

Did you miss our last Regional Housing Network Webinar? The slides for our February 2026 RHN Webinar, Addressing Racial Discrimination in Housing and Homeownership— What Communities Can Do, is now available on the RHS website!

The presentation provides an overview of ongoing discrimination in housing and homeownership and newly updated homeownership data by race. It also shares some of the impacts, and provides information on current efforts and resources, from YWCA Madison and Own It: Building Black Wealth, two local organizations working to address racial housing disparities in housing Dane County.

To view the February RHN Webinar presentation slides, or to view our other Regional Housing Network Webinars, click here.

The new Racial Discrimination in Housing and Homeownership Fact Sheet discusses the impacts to residents, communities and businesses in more detail. It also includes 10 concrete steps communities and individuals can take to address the ongoing and negative impacts to our residents, communities and economy.

Click below for the new RHS Fact Sheet.

--NEW FACT SHEET--Racial Discrimination in Housing and Homeownership: What Your Community Can Do

$95,000 in Down Payment Assistance Grants to First-Time Homebuyers in Dane County

Five Dane County families are one step closer to becoming first-time homebuyers after each being awarded a $19,000 down payment assistance grant from Madison non-profit Own It: Building Black Wealth.

Own It’s Education Program features two courses that help prospective homebuyers learn about the homebuying process and establish financial literacy skills. After completing their Wealth Building and Homeownership courses, families are eligible to apply for a grant, with awards up to $19,000, that can be used towards a down payment.

Is the road to homeownership right for you? To learn more about Own It’s Homebuyer Education program, visit their website here.

Share the RHS newsletter & sign up here!

SAVE THE DATE!

2nd Annual

Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) Meeting

Tuesday, June 30th, 2026, 6:00 pm

Alliant Energy Center

At the meeting, you will learn about Dane County's progress on the RHS's Five Housing Priorities and

you'll hear from a panel of elected officials about the challenges and tough decisions they face around housing. We'll also discuss the obstacles to affordable single-family housing. What does it look like, and how to make it happen?

Stay tuned for more information on speakers and presentations!

Dane County Executive Announces New ProHousing Grant Program, One Million Available to Communities

"Regulatory barriers can drive up housing costs and restrict the supply of homes and the range of housing options available,” County Executive Agard said. “Through the new CDBG PRO Housing grant program, our participating municipalities will have a chance to review their local zoning, permitting, and internal procedures—and make important reforms to remove barriers and support more housing.” Planning grants are also eligible. Read the recent press release here .

New ProHousing Grant Request for Proposa ls here.

Community Updates

HomeReach DeForest - New Housing Program in the Village of DeForest Launched!

DeForest’s housing market is under increasing pressure due to regional job growth, rising construction costs, and shifting regional demographics. Local employers report that workers struggle to find housing in the community, while seniors looking to downsize or age-in-place face a shortage of options that fit their budgets and accessibility needs.

Funds target incentivizing larger-scale workforce housing developments - new construction, rehabilitation or redevelopment (with a preference for owner-occupied housing) through the Affordable Housing Development Fund; and,

Providing direct assistance to eligible homeowners and homebuyers for home improvements, accessibility modifications, and downpayment assistance through the Home Improvement and Downpayment Assistance Fund for households at 80% of the Area-median income, or less.

For more detailed information, please send your inquiry to: development@deforestwi.gov.

City of Madison 2025 Housing Snapshot Report

The City of Madison’s Department of Planning, Community, and Economic Development has released their 2025 Housing Snapshot Report, providing insights into the City’s housing trends.

The 2025 Housing Snapshot builds off the City of Madison’s 2023 Housing Snapshot, and features updated information on the City’s population growth, housing vacancies, new housing construction, and housing costs. This report also discusses the impacts of current efforts to improve Madison’s housing supply.

To review the key findings of the 2025 Housing Snapshot, visit the City of Madison’s website here, or view the full report here.

Housing Events & Job Opportunities

Join Habitat for Humanity!

Wed, April 22, 2026

Community Discussion on Tackling the Affordability Crisis - Free to the Public!

Jim Malewitz, WI Watch, will facilitate a solutions-focused event uniting business and government leaders, nonprofit partners and community champions working to expand access to affordable housing.

Breakfast and networking begins at 8:00 am. Register here: habitatdane.org/TurningTheKey

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WHEDA Conference 2026— Call for Session Proposals

Proposals Due Tuesday, March 31, 2026

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) is now accepting speaker and session proposals for the WHEDA Conference 2026: How Housing Happens, happening on November 18-19, 2026, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center (Madison, WI).

WHEDA’s Annual Conference brings housing specialists, including developers, property managers, financial specialists, lenders, housing advocates, and municipal leaders, together to learn about industry changes and learn about innovative ways to bring affordable housing to the State of Wisconsin.

WHEDA welcomes suggestions for speakers to share more about successful and innovative practices and projects advancing affordable housing. Applications for session and speaker proposals are due Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Questions about the proposal process can be directed to WHEDAConference@wheda.com.

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WHEDA Development Training Program

Wednesday, April 29-Friday, May 1, 2026

Hilton Garden Inn (1015 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay, WI)

Registration is now open for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's (WHEDA) Spring 2026 Development Training Program, happening Wednesday, April 29 to Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn (Green Bay, WI).

If you are a contractor, developer, government official, engineer, real estate agent, or entrepreneur interested in affordable housing development, this training is for you! Participants will learn about the key components of multifamily housing development, and will get the chance to talk with WHEDA staff and seasoned developers about their path to working in affordable housing development.

Click here to register for this training. Registration closes on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Questions can be directed to Ronald Slade at ronald.slade@wheda.com.

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Job Opportunity- Housing Counseling and Home Ownership Program Manager

Movin' Out, Inc. is searching for a full-time Housing Counseling and Home Ownership Program Manager to join their organization. Movin' Out is a nonprofit organization based in Madison that focuses on disability justice, working with local partners to create affordable, community-integrated housing. Movin' Out offers homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling programs, as well as well as many other resources related to home repair, financial literacy, and much more!

The Housing Counseling and Home Ownership Program Manager supports team members, manage contracts, supervises the delivery of services, and assures program compliance and quality. Applicants should have knowledge of home ownership and housing counseling services, and have values that align with Movin' Out, including anti-racism, social justice/disability justice, and self-determination for people with disabilities.

Click here to learn more about the position and to apply!

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Job Opportunity- Affordable Housing Manager

Baker Tilly is seeking a LIHTC Development Manager to join their Development & Community Advisory team.

This position serves as a business advisor who provides financial consulting to developers and other stakeholders in multi-family housing. The LIHTC Development Manager will assist with transactions related to affordable housing, including securing financing, writing and editing funding applications, assisting with the structuring of LIHTC credits, and much more!

Candidates should have five or more years of experience with low income housing tax credits, and an understanding of real estate financials and operations. For more information about this position, visit Baker Tilly's job listing here.