MONROE — This past week, the Green County Healthy Community Coalition (GCHCC) hosted our second Green County Housing Summit, designed to tackle one of our top priorities, housing.

As part of our current Community Health Improvement Plan, the Green County Healthy Community Coalition has been working to respond to local housing needs. Recent findings from the 2024 Community Health Assessment show that more than half of all survey respondents identified affordable housing as the top community need.

One of the coalition’s key initiatives was hosting the Green County Housing Summit, which brought together all different sectors of our community to spark conversation, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions. Organizers say the goal was to create a space to help the community better understand both our housing strengths and gaps, and to learn about innovative affordable housing solutions. This event would not have been possible without our sponsors: The Bank of New Glarus, SSM Health, and Colony Brands.

This year’s keynote speaker, David Zach, a Monroe native and futurist, encouraged attendees to think beyond immediate concerns and consider what housing in Green County could look like in the years ahead. His presentation challenged the community to become “20% more curious.” Zach pushed attendees to think innovatively and introduced the idea of building dream neighborhoods rather than dream homes.

In addition to the keynote address, the morning’s agenda featured insights on affordable housing solutions, including a case-study panel discussion with Mariah Goode and Bill Oemichen, who shared their experiences with Community Land Trusts and Housing Cooperatives. The conversation then shifted to a local expert panel featuring Olivia Otte, Jance Marty, and Rodger Berg that shared an analysis of the Green County housing landscape

Green County Healthy Community Coalition Organizers hope the summit will serve as a catalyst for continued collaboration. By bringing people together and focusing on both present needs and future possibilities, Green County is taking an important step toward building a more affordable and inclusive housing landscape. If you are interested in this initiative and want to get involved, contact Rachel Meier (Rachel.Meier@ssmhealth.com).