Insights & Updates

Topics this month include zoning reform, housing affordability, community engagement, national policy conversations in Washington D.C., and preparations for the upcoming Community Housing Academy in Milwaukee.

Ken Smith shares insights from a national Smart Growth America convening on zoning reform, connecting how restrictive land-use policies limit housing supply, drive up costs, and worsen affordability in Wisconsin. The piece explores how rethinking housing by place, type, and price can open the door to more attainable homes statewide.

April was a full and energizing month for the 1000 Friends housing team! From Milwaukee conversations on community land trusts to housing summits, home tours, and workshops all across the state – we connected with partners and saw real progress toward expanding affordable housing in Wisconsin.

By Ken Smith / Behind every new home is a maze of local rules – and they matter more than you think. From zoning codes to approval timelines, the fine print of local regulations can quietly shape what gets built, where, and whether it gets built at all (often adding cost, delay, and uncertainty that limit housing supply).

Our newly inaugurated housing team at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin has begun its work, and housing is a major issue on the minds of people across Wisconsin and the nation.