MONROE — In Wisconsin, the supply of housing for our workforce is not keeping up with the demand. We’re not building enough houses, and our existing stock of homes is aging. The cost of housing is rising faster than income and inflation. As a result, home ownership is falling in the state, especially among younger and first-time home-buyers, and we’re seeing a significant need for more quality, affordable housing.

The issue of the workforce housing shortage will be the focus of Green County Development Corporation’s upcoming Executive Leadership Breakfast, set for Tuesday, Nov. 9. Guest speaker will be Prof. Kurt Paulsen, professor of urban planning in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of the 2019 report “Falling Behind.” In this report, Paulsen identifies three main causes of the workforce housing shortage problem:

● Not building enough houses to keep up with growth

● Cost of construction outpacing income and inflation

● Land use regulations that are outdated and drive up the cost of housing

Paulsen’s talk will help serve as the preface to an upcoming Housing Summit planned for early 2022 in Monroe where the focus will be on the local workforce housing shortage and potential solutions.

The Executive Leadership Breakfast will be at Koning’s Maple Lane Event Center, N3051 Wis. 81, Monroe. Doors open at 7; the breakfast buffet begins at 7:30 a.m. Paulsen’s talk will begin about 8 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 8:30 a.m.

The event is free, but pre-registration is requested by Tuesday, Nov. 2. Register by emailing gcdc@tds.net or calling at 608-328-9452