MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address celebrating Wisconsin Homeownership Month and highlighting the Evers Administration’s efforts to expand access to quality, affordable housing, promote equitable access to homeownership, and address issues of homelessness that impact communities statewide. A copy of the governor’s 2025 Wisconsin Homeownership Month proclamation is available here.
Access to safe, reliable, and affordable housing is a critical part of Gov. Evers’ efforts to support kids and families, bolster the state’s workforce and economy, and ensure communities across the state continue to grow and thrive. The 2023-25 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers made one of the largest investments in workforce housing in state history with a $525 million investment, including $100 million for the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, $100 million for the Restore Main Street Program, and $275 million for the Infrastructure Access Loan Program. To date, these three programs are already supporting the development of approximately 1,000 workforce housing units statewide.
Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Executive Budget proposal built on these efforts to increase the number of affordable housing units available in Wisconsin by including measures to improve programs like the Infrastructure Access, Vacancy-to-Vitality, and Restore Main Street programs to encourage greater use by local units of government and Tribal Nations, as well as improve the effectiveness of the programs. Additionally, the governor’s budget also includes a proposal to double the resources available each year through the state housing tax credits program, increase the credit period from six to 10 taxable years, and give the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority broader financing authority.
RADIO ADDRESS
Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.
June is Homeownership Month here in Wisconsin.
Folks, the need for affordable housing is one of the issues I hear most about everywhere I go.
Affordable housing is an issue that connects the dots between some of the most pressing challenges facing our state today.
From giving our kids the stability to bring their best selves to the classrooms to ensuring that workers can live in the communities that they work in, affordable housing is essential.
Simply put, expanding access to safe, stable, and affordable housing supports our kids and families, bolsters our workforce and economy, and ensures our communities continue to thrive.
My administration and I have worked hard to expand access to affordable housing for workers and families across our state.
And I was proud to sign a budget two years ago that made the largest investment in workforce housing in our state’s history with a $525 million investment.
With these funds, we launched three new innovative programs, and so far, we’re helping build about 1,000 new affordable housing units from Hayward to Milwaukee.
Folks, that’s great news, but we still have more work to do.
That’s why I proposed measures to improve our affordable housing programs to make sure they’re effective and we can get money into the hands of local leaders who can use them.
And we’re working to double the resources available through the state housing tax credits program and give WHEDA broader financing authority.
Folks, expanding access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is a key part of our work to support kids and families, strengthen our communities, and grow our state’s workforce.
So, during Homeownership Month and every month, we’re committed to expanding access to quality, affordable housing, promoting equitable access to homeownership, and addressing homelessness issues that impact communities statewide.
Thank you.
Last Update: Jun 20, 2025 11:17 am CDT
