WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – Sen. Tammy Baldwin made a stop in Wausau on Friday afternoon to tour one of the area’s newest apartment projects.
She was joined by Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg and other public and private partners to highlight the federal money that went toward renovating the former Ponderosa Motel site and increasing access to affordable housing.
Senator Baldwin saw the completed apartment complex, which contained five low-income housing units, as well as the development progress of the second complex.
Baldwin spoke about the project and the need for continued funding, saying, “We can and must do more to ensure there is a safe place for everyone to lie their heads at night and that it is within reach for all Wisconsinites.”
“This program will help communities like Wausau boost home ownership, support housing rehabilitation, and drive economic development, along with so much more, and here today we are seeing a prime example of the program’s impact,” Baldwin continued.
According to Apartment List, the national median rent has increased by 22.4% to $1,372 since March 2020, and renters across Wisconsin have felt financial strain in the last five years as the state is currently ranked fifth in the nation for rent increases.
While demand continues to be a major factor in rental increases, PBS Wisconsin says that in Wisconsin, demand is driven by those who wish to live on their own. Despite a population increase of 1.53 million people, the average Wisconsin household size has decreased from 3.224 people in 1970 to 2.353 people in 2022, according to Wisconsin’s Demographic Services Center.
