Why Invest?

The current reality is that much of our workforce – including nurses, manufacturing professionals , teachers and other middle-class employees – are being priced out of affordable homes in Dodge and Jefferson Counties.

This doesn’t have to be our future. Groundbreaking communities across the nation are finding innovative ways to address the housing issue: creating public-private partnerships, bridging funding gaps and updating zoning rules. Communities that are proactive in attracting needed housing are more likely to keep and/or attract the next generation of workers and families needed to thrive.

The housing shortage is impacting communities across Wisconsin and the nation. There is no single reason for the lack of affordable housing, but rather a "perfect storm" of trends (see below - rising costs, availability, shifting demographics, financing gaps and outdated planning). There is also, unfortunately, no simple solution. The Foundation is working on many fronts (see Strategy, below) to increase the number of available units in our region at costs that are as reasonable as possible. Key strategic partners like the Dodge County Housing Authority, ThriveED and the Live Local Fund, and Habitat for Humanity are all recipients of Foundation support, in addition to the development project happening in Watertown.