>>> WELCOME TO "NOON WEDNESDAY,"
I'M MARISA WOJCIK, MULTIMEDIA
JOURNALIST WITH "HERE & NOW" ON
PBS WEDNESDAY.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 15.
THE HOUSING MARKET IS ON FIRE
AND FIERCELY COMPETITIVE,
PRICING OUT PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT
THEY COULD AFFORD TO BUY A
STARTER HOME AND EVEN FURTHER
DIVIDING PEOPLE FROM EVER
ATTAINING THAT GOAL.
JOAQUÍN ALTORO, CEO OF THE
WISCONSIN HOUSING AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, JOINS US
NOW TO EXPLAIN THE CONTEXT
AROUND THIS GROWING ISSUE AND
POINT TO HOW HIS AGENCY IS
WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS, AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> I WANT TO START WITH WHAT, IN
YOUR MIND, IS THE STATE OF
HOUSING IN HOME OWNERSHIP IN
WISCONSIN, AND WOULD YOU
CHARACTERIZE THIS AS A CRISIS?
>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE
ABSOLUTELY ARE READING THE
HEADLINES AROUND THE ISSUES OF
SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND THE COST.
I MEAN, THAT'S AFFECTING SO MANY
THINGS IN THIS CONVERSATION, BUT
RIGHT NOW, IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, WHEN IT COMES TO A
CRISIS, I WOULD SAY IT DEPENDS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY A CRISIS WHEN
IT COMES TO THOSE THAT ARE
HOMELESS.
WHEN WE SPEAK TO PARTICULAR
STAKEHOLDERS LIKE OUR TRIBAL
NATIONS SO WE KNOW THERE'S NO
TIME LIKE NOW TO WAIT TO RESOLVE
THE ISSUES.
IN A TIME OF CRISIS, WE STILL
DON'T CONSIDER TOMORROW AND
PLANNING FOR TOMORROW AND MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE AHEAD OF ANY
POTENTIAL ON COMING CRISIS, AND
SO THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE
DISPARITY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN
AND LATINO HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN VERSUS WHITE
HOME OWNERSHIP.
THE FACT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
TOGETHER.
THAT TAKES LONG-TERM PLANNING
BECAUSE THE FACT NOT ONLY ARE WE
BUILDING BUILDINGS THAT WILL BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELL-BEING
OF A PERSON, BUT THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES,
AND THERE'S PARTICULAR MODELS
THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT
SUCCESSFUL, AND SO WE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO SHOW THOSE MODELS TO OUR
DEVELOPERS AND OUR PRACTITIONERS
AS TO WHAT THE MODELS LOOK LIKE.
THAT TAKES LONGER, AND THEN THE
CONVERSATION OF SUPPLY, RIGHT?
THERE'S A REALLY WHAT IT'S COME
DOWN TO IS THAT RIGHT NOW, YOU
KNOW, YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF BUYERS THAT ARE TRYING
TO GET INTO THE MARKET, THAT
WANT TO PURCHASE A HOME, BUT,
YOU KNOW, HOMES ON THE MARKETS
FOR MINUTES, HOURS, AND WE'RE
ASKING ABOVE THE ASKING PRICE.
THAT ALL IS ABOUT THE FACT OF
SUPPLY, AND IF I WERE TO PULL
THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER,
IT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A
DIVERSE SUPPLY, A DIVERSE SET OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPTIONS OF
THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING.
A MAJORITY OF WHAT WE BUILT OVER
THE LAST 20 YEARS HAS BEEN
MOSTLY ABOVE MARKET AND LUXURY
HOUSING, AND SO THERE ARE
DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS OF
PEOPLE, AND SO ARE THEIR NEEDS
FOR THE TYPE OF HOUSING THAT IS
NEEDED FOR THEM TO LIVE IN.
>> AND HAS THE PANDEMIC SHED A
LIGHT ON THIS CRISIS, AND DO THE
PATTERNS WE SEE IN RENTERS AND
EVICTIONS, DO THOSE TELL US
ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOME
OWNERSHIP MARKET?
>> YEAH.
THE PANDEMIC HAS ABSOLUTELY SHED
A LIGHT ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU KNOW, I THINK, IF YOU THINK
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT SIT ON THE LEDGE,
AND AT ANY MOMENT, THEY CAN GO
FROM A POSITION OF GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO A POSITION OF
GREAT DESPAIR, AND THAT HAS A
LOT TO DO WITH PEOPLE'S
OPPORTUNITIES, THEIR JOBS,
INCOME, FAMILY STABILITY, MENTAL
AND BEHAVIOR STABILITY.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
OUR FOLKS WHO SIT ON THAT LEDGE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE PANDEMIC DOES,
IT PUSHES YOU EITHER WAY.
SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS IN PLACE
WHERE THE FACT OF MAYBE WHERE WE
HAD CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT
WERE CONSIDERED HOMELESSNESS IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, BUT HOW
ABOUT THE FAMILIES WHO COULD
BARELY AFFORD RENT THAT WERE
JUST BARELY AT A JOB THAT WAS
PAYING ENOUGH TO AFFORD THE
RENT.
JOB DISAPPEARS.
INCOME DISAPPEARS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THEN FAMILIES
ARE COUCH SURFING WITH OTHER
FAMILIES.
THAT LASTS SO LONG.
THEN THERE'S A NEED FOR SOME OF
THE HELP THROUGH THE SOCIAL
SERVICES, AND EVEN THE QUESTION
OF CAN FOLKS AFFORD THEIR RENTS,
AND WE'VE HEARD THE CONVERSATION
RIGHT NOW IN THE NATION AROUND
SOME OF THE MORATORIUMS, SOME OF
THE PROTECTIONS, SOME OF THE
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE PANDEMIC SHOWS ITS FACE
AND HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> SO IS THIS AN ISSUE OF
STAGNATING WAGES, OR THE RISING
COST OF THE HOUSING MARKET AND
REAL ESTATE?
>> OH, MY GOD.
YOU KNOW, TO ASK A QUESTION --
AND I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION --
BUT TO ASK THE QUESTION IS IT AN
ISSUE OF THIS OR THIS?
IT'S AN ISSUE OF EVERYTHING.
THAT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND, RIGHT?
IT'S LIKE WHEN I TALK ABOUT
BUILDING HOMES NOWADAYS, FOLKS
WANT TO FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC
ISSUE AROUND THAT, BUT WHEN I
SAY IT'S THE PERFECT STORM, THE
PERFECT STORM HAS ARRIVED IN
THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION WHEN
IT COMES TO AFFORDABILITY.
AFFORDABILITY OF PURCHASING OR
AFFORDABILITY OF RENTING.
THAT PERFECT STORM IS NOW, AND
THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE
REALLY TRYING TO GET ENGAGED IN
THAT CONVERSATION AROUND
AFFORDABILITY, MAKING SURE WE
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE PRODUCTS,
EITHER IT BE WHEN ONE WANTS TO
BUY A HOME, MAKING SURE WE ARE
INVESTING IN AND BEING INVOLVED
WITH THE DOWN PAYMENT SIDE, LOW
INTEREST LOANS, AND ON THE
RENTAL SIDE, MAKING SURE THAT WE
PROVIDE TAX CREDITS TO BUILD
MULTIFAMILY UNITS, THAT WE WORK
CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY MANAGERS
MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND NOT
ONLY THEIR RIGHTS, BUT THE RIGHT
OF THE TENANTS AND MAKING SURE
THAT THROUGH OUR COMPLIANCE THAT
THEY ARE TREATING THE TENANT
WITH THE CORRECT RIGHTS THAT
THEY DESERVE.
>> AND SOME AREAS OF WISCONSIN,
WE'VE SEEN IT IN RURAL AREAS AND
HEAVILY TOURIST AREAS,
COMMUNITIES ARE STRUGGLING TO
FIND OR CREATE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND IT'S CREATING A
HARDER JOB FOR EMPLOYERS TO FIND
PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK IN THAT AREA
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND A PLACE
TO LIVE, AND IT IS CREATING
ALMOST A DOMINO EFFECT OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OR VISION OF
HOW TO APPROACH AN ISSUE LIKE
THAT?
>> SO THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC, AND IT IS ACTUALLY VERY
IMPORTANT TOPIC NATIONALLY.
WHAT WE SEE WITH OUR COLLEAGUE
ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE NATION
IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE
MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT LEFT OUR
URBAN CORES IN THE 40s AND
50s AND 60s, BUT WE HAVE
INDUSTRY, LIKE AGRICULTURE,
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES, THAT NEEDS THE WORK
FORCE, BUT ALONG WITH WORK FORCE
IS, HOW DO YOU SUPPORT THEIR
HOUSING NEEDS?
THE NEED IS GREAT OUTSIDE OF,
OBVIOUSLY, THE URBAN CORE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND SO, FOR
US, THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE
PARTICIPATE IN MAKING SURE THAT
THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AND THE
LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE
ARE HELPFUL TO BUILDING MORE
HOUSING OR MULTIFAMILY RENTAL
UNITS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
A COUPLE THINGS WE'VE DONE OVER
TIME IS THAT WE HAVE REDEFINED
WHAT RURAL MEANT IN WISCONSIN
BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT WHEN WE
CAST A WIDE NET, THERE'S A LOT
OF OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WERE
NOT SPECIFICALLY RURAL THAT WERE
BEING ABLE TO USE OUR RESOURCES,
SO US IN REDEFINING THAT WAS
IMPORTANT.
WE ALSO CAME UP WITH A PILOT
PROGRAM WE ARE WORKING WITH WITH
MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES IN HELPING
THEM AND PARTICIPATING WITH THEM
AND HELPING THEM DECIDE WHAT ARE
YOUR PRIORITIES?
I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET INTO
THESE COMMUNITIES AND SAY, HEY,
WE ARE A PART OF THAT EQUATION
TO POTENTIALLY BEGINNING TO GET
AT THE ISSUE OF WORK FORCE
HOUSING, BUT IT IS NOT US ALONE.
WE NEED YOU ALL, FIRST OF ALL,
TO HAVE YOUR PRIORITIES AND MAKE
SURE YOU ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT
YOUR PRIORITIES ARE, AND THEN WE
CAN SAY THIS IS WHERE WE STEP
IN, BUT THEN WHO ELSE SHOULD BE
AT THE TABLE?
BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WHEN IT
CAME TO DEVELOPMENT,
MUNICIPALITIES, A DEVELOPER, A
BANKER, THAT DOESN'T MAKE --
THAT RIGHT THERE IS NOT THE
SECRET SAUCE TO SUCCESS SO RIGHT
NOW AS A PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT,
WE BRING EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN,
HEALTH SYSTEMS IN, EMPLOYERS IN,
AND IT IS CREATING A GREAT
FRICTION AND GREAT
CONVERSATIONS, BUT WHAT WE SEE
IN THIS ALIGNMENT IS WHAT HAS TO
HAPPEN NEXT.
WE HAD FOLKS COME TO US SAYING
WE NEED MORE TAX CREDITS OR YOUR
TAX CREDITS TO BUILD, BUT THE
TRUTH IT, IN SOME CASES, WE
COULD AWARD ALL THE TAX CREDITS
WE WANT TO BUILD, BUT SIX YEARS
LATER, NOTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN
BUILT, AND THE REASON WHY IS
BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER THINGS
THAT HAD TO BE CONSIDERED IN
ADVANCE OF ACTUALLY BUILDING.
THINGS LIKE MAYBE SOME
COMMUNITIES ARE SAYING, OH, NO,
YOU'RE NOT BUILDING ANY TYPE OF
HOUSING OR MULTIFAMILY RENTAL
HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OR
THE FACT THAT THE ZONING DOESN'T
ALLOW IN THAT TYPE OF AREA FOR
THAT HOUSING, EVEN
INFRASTRUCTURE COST.
YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO
BUILD STREETS AND THE ELECTRICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE?
RIDICULOUSLY EXINESSIVE.
--
EXPENSIVE.
IT IS AN AWAKENING FOR US AND
THE COMMUNITIES AND EXCITING AS
WE PROGRESS GOING FORWARD.
>> DOES THAT DEFINITION OF
"RURAL" AND "URBAN" CHANGE THE
PRIORITIES, OR DO PRIORITIES
EVEN JUST CHANGE FROM RURAL
COMMUNITY TO RURAL COMMUNITY,
URBAN COMMUNITY TO URBAN
COMMUNITY?
>> I WAS APPOINTED TO THE
POSITION BY GOVERNOR EVERS, AND
WHEN I MET WITH HIM, I REALLY
APPRECIATED THE CHALLENGE HE PUT
FORWARD.
HE KNEW THAT I WAS NEARLY A
30-YEAR BANKER IN URBAN
COMMUNITIES, BUT IN HIS RESEARCH
AND THE FACT THAT WHEN I
EXPLAINED TO HIM IS THAT WORKING
IN RURAL COMMUNITIES -- EXCUSE
ME, IN URBAN COMMUNITIES, WE ARE
STILL WORKING WITH VERY LIMITED
RESOURCES, AND SO THE WAY WE
STRETCH A PENNY HAS TO BE
INNOVATIVE IN OUR PROCESS, AND
THE CHALLENGE WAS FOR ME TO TAKE
THAT SAME MENTALITY, VIGOR TO
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
I TOOK THE CHALLENGE FROM HIM.
I REALIZED, NOT THROUGH THE JOB,
BUT IN ADVANCE OF THE JOB, IS
THAT I, MYSELF, WAS REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT ANY COMMUNITY
THAT DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY THAT REALLY HAD A
NEED FOR EITHER ECONOMIC DEVELOP
OR HOUSING, AND I NOTICED THAT
THAT NEED WAS EQUALLY OR
SOMETIMES EVEN MORE IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES, AND SO I, AGAIN,
SAYS THE CHALLENGE FROM GOVERNOR
EVERS HAS BEEN NOTED, AND WE ARE
WORKING VERY HARD WITH OUR
LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE BECAUSE THE ISSUE OF
HOUSING IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.
IT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
WHEN I SPEAK TO EITHER MY
REPUBLICAN AND/OR DEMOCRAT
COLLEAGUES, THEY UNDERSTAND THE
FACT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE ARE SAFELY HOUSING OUR
COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO ARE
AFFORDABLY HOUSING OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND SO THE WORK IS
REAL.
IT IS TOUGH.
IT IS NOT EASY.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE
IS THAT THE QUESTION'S ALWAYS
ASKED AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO
WE NEED TO DO TO SOLVE THE ISSUE
OF HOUSING IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN?
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE
WILL NOT SOLVE OF ISSUE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE
ONGOING AND ORGANIC FOREVER
INDEFINITELY, AND IF WE
UNDERSTAND THAT, THEN WE WILL
PLAN ACCORDINGLY TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE CONSISTENTLY TESTING,
CONSISTENTLY SERVING,
CONSISTENTLY INNOVATING, AND
CONSISTENTLY EXECUTING TO HAVE
SUCCESS AROUND THE HOUSING
ISSUES IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> YOU'VE SPOKEN TO A FOCUS ON
UNDERSERVED, UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES AND TRYING TO WORK
ON HOME OWNERSHIP IN THOSE
POPULATIONS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN?
>> SO ONE OF THE PLACES THAT I
WOULD CONSIDER TO BE UNDERSERVED
AND UNDERREPRESENTED WHEN IT
COMES TO HOME OWNERSHIP IS THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO
COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE -- WE -- THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN HAS THE THIRD WORST
DISPARITY RATE BETWEEN WHITE
HOMEOWNERS AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
AND LATINO HOMEOWNERS.
THAT ISSUE IS FOR US AND
ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE ELSE A VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE IT GETS
AT THIS CONVERSATION OF LEGACY
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WEALTH
CREATION AND STAINABILITY.
THAT CHANGES THE FABRIC OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE NEEDS OF
THOSE COMMUNITIES, EITHER IT BE
HEALTH OR EDUCATION, AND MY
RESEARCH IN LISTENING TO
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE
HISPANIC REAL ESTATE
PROFESSIONALS AND THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE
BROKERS, WHICH IS THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL REAL
ESTATE BROKER ASSOCIATION, THEY
CAME UP WITH SOME OF THE TOP
THREE BARRIERS TO ENTRY WHEN IT
COMES TO HOME OWNERSHIP.
THE NUMBER ONE, FIRST, WAS DOWN
PAYMENT.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING REGARDLESS OF
RACE IS THAT IN THE CHANGE OF
THE AGE DEMOGRAPHICS IS THAT
WE'RE JUST NOT SAVING DOLLARS
LIKE WE USED TO, AND SO THAT IS
A HUGE IMPACT AMONGST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO
HOMEOWNERS IS THAT DOWN PAYMENT.
WE JUST HAVE NOT SAVED FOR IT,
AND THAT IS A REQUIREMENT IN
ORDER FOR US TO PURCHASE A HOME.
NUMBER TWO IS HOME BUYER
EDUCATION COUNSELING.
I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW
IMPORTANT THIS EDUCATION IS.
WE THINK WE KNOW THE PROCESS,
BUT THE TRUTH IS, WHEN YOU
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES OF
WHAT IT MEANS TO APPLY, WHO TO
SPEAK TO, WHO TO TRUST, WHAT IS
THE COSTS, SHOULD I BE PAYING
THIS, WHAT'S THE CONTRACT MEAN?
THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN, AND WE
REALIZED THAT THAT EDUCATION IS
INVALUABLE.
A COLLEAGUE OF MINE IN TENNESSEE
DID A RESEARCH ON THOSE THAT
WENT THROUGH THE HOME BUYER
COUNSELING EDUCATION, AND THEY
HAD A LOWER DEFAULT RATIO DURING
THE RECESSION THAN CONVENTIONAL
HOMEOWNERS AND HOME BUYERS, AND
SO THAT, IN ITSELF, SAYS IT IS
IMPORTANT.
AND THEN THE THIRD ISSUE IS AN
ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
THAT ON TOUCHED ON A LIGHTLY,
BUT, AGAIN, THAT IS GOING TO BE
VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, ALL OF US, HAVE TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THIS QUESTION OF AFFORDABILITY
IS THAT, HOW DO WE SUPPORT, HOW
DO WE CREATE POLICIES, HOW DO WE
MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE SUPPLY, AND WHEN I SAY
"SUPPLY," JUST HOUSING THAT
FOLKS AT DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS
THAT THEY CAN FIND IT AND AFFORD
IT SO THAT IT CAN ADD TO THEIR
WEALTH CREATION.
>> YOU MENTIONED LEGACY, AND
YOU'VE BEEN MEETING WITH
DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM FIRST
NATIONS ACROSS WISCONSIN.
WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING AND
PLANNING FROM THESE
CONVERSATIONS?
>> BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY
OF MILWAUKEE, AND I'VE HAD
FRIENDS THAT IDENTIFIED AS
NATIVE AMERICAN, AND I'VE SEEN
PARTICULAR SOCIAL SERVICE GROUPS
OR ORGANIZATIONS, VETERANS'
GROUPS THAT IDENTIFIED AS NATIVE
AMERICAN.
WHAT THIS JOB HAS GIVEN ME THE
TRUE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING DEEPER
IN UNDERSTANDING KIND OF THE
PLIGHT OF OUR TRIBAL NATIONS.
FIRST THING I LEARNED WAS MADE
VERY CLEAR IS OF THEIR
SOVEREIGNTY AND WE HAVE 19 -- 11
TRIBES, EXCUSE ME, I GET
CONFUSED WITH ANOTHER STAT THAT
I HAVE HERE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT
WE HAVE 11 TRIBES IN THE STATE
OF WISCONSIN, AND OF THE TRIBES,
THEY WERE VERY CLEAR AT HOWDY
VERSE THEY ARE.
IT SEEM LIKE IN MOST CASES IN
THE PAST, WHEN GOVERNMENT WANTS
TO PARTNER WITH TRIBES, THEY
JUST MAKE THIS ASSUMPTION, LIKE,
LET'S HAVE THIS TOOL OR THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND JUST PAINT A
BRUSH LIKE ALL TRIBES NEED THIS
OR THIS IS THE WAY TO TREAT ALL
OF THEM.
WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR THEY ARE
VERY DIVERSE IN THEIR NEED, THEY
ARE VERY DIVERSE IN THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
PRESENTED.
WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD AT
MEETING WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THEM TRYING TO VISIT THEM, YOU
KNOW, WHEN IT WAS SAFE FOR US TO
VISIT THEM, AND REALLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR NEED WAS
WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSING AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT WE LEARNED IS THE FACT
THAT, AND THIS IS, I WOULD SAY,
IN A GENERAL SENSE BECAUSE WE
REALLY TRIED TO THINGS TRENDING
AMONGST ALL THE TRIBES, AND A
GENERAL SENSE, WE REALIZED THAT
COVID, THE PANDEMIC, IT HIT THE
TRIBES HARD, AND THE TRIBES THAT
ACTUALLY HAD REVENUE FROM THE
CASINOS, CASINOS WERE SHUT DOWN,
AND IF THEY WERE NOT SHUT DOWN,
PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO THEM,
WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE
REVENUES OF THE TRIBES, AND SO
OUR TRIBAL NATIONS ARE THINKING
REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW AND
THINKING IN ADVANCE, BUT IT WAS
FURTHER EXPERIENCE BAITED, --
EXACERBATED SO THE NEXT TIME
THIS HAPPENS, WE ARE PROTECTED.
WE WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT
STRATEGIC PLANNING TO THINK HOW
DO WE PARTICIPATE IN
DIVERSIFYING THEIR REVENUE
SOURCES TO PROTECT THEM GOING
FORWARD.
ALSO, THERE WAS SOME OF THE
TRIBES THAT HAVE SEEN A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN OPIOID
USAGE.
WHAT IT HAS IS IT'S IMPACTED THE
HOUSING NEED FOR THE TRIBES IN
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND SO THE
QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE
PARTICIPATE WITH THE TRIBES IN
PROVIDING KIND OF THE CORRECT
MODELS OF WHAT SUPPORTIVE
SERVICE LOOKS LIKE WITH HOUSING
SO THAT WE CAN HOUSE THOSE THAT
ARE AFFECTED BY OPIOID USAGE,
AND AT THE SAME TIME, CAN HAVE
SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE
NEEDED TO GET THEM ABOVE WATER
TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
>> NOW, IN THE SHORT TERM,
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS ANNOUNCED $
$92 MILLION IN HOMEOWNER
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT SOME
EXPERTS ARE SAYING, JUST IN
GENERAL, THERE'S NOT BEEN AN
INCENTIVE FOR DEVELOPERS AS WE
TALKED ABOUT TO BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING SINCE THE GREAT
RECESSION.
IS THIS KIND OF PATTERN OF
RISING HOUSING COSTS, IF IT
CONTINUES, WHAT IS GOING TO BE
THE OUTCOME, AND WHAT IS THE
ROLE IN THAT?
YOU SPOKE TO INNOVATIVE
APPROACHES.
WHAT ARE THE NEW WAYS THAT THIS
HAS TO BE THOUGHT OF, AND IS
THIS ANOTHER KIND OF BUBBLE
THAT'S JUST SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT WE SAW IN 2008?
>> BIG QUESTION.
I'LL DO MY BEST TO ADD TO THAT
QUESTION.
I DO WANT TO START FIRST AND
FOREMOST IS THAT IF ANYBODY HAS
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO
KIND OF THE PUBLIC SESSIONS OF
OUR GOVERNOR IN WHERE HE GOES
AROUND AND LISTENS TO
COMMUNITIES, HE'S REALIZING, AS
HE REALIZED FOR SOME TIME, THE
FACT THAT THE ISSUE OF BROADBAND
IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, BUT IT
CONTINUES TO COME FORWARD TO HIM
AROUND HOUSING, AND HOUSING IS A
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO OUR
GOVERNOR.
I THINK WITH THE FACT OF THE TAX
CREDITS THAT WE USED TO BUILD
MULTIFAMILY RENTAL UNITS IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, I THINK SOME
FOLKS THAT ARE FOLKS IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT THINK A TAX
CREDIT ALONE IS THE ANSWER TO
OUR PROBLEM, BUT A MEMBER -- IF
YOU REMEMBER EARLIER IN OUR
CONVERSATION, THAT THERE ARE
MANY OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING OUR
ABILITY TO GET HOUSING UP.
FIRST OF ALL, THE COSTS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD IN A NEWS
RECENTLY, JUST WOOD, ALONE, HOW
IT EXPLODED IN PRICE.
FINDING SKILLED WORK FORCE.
FINDING WORK FORCE, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, THAT WANTS TO COME TO
RURAL COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP.
DEVELOPERS WILLING TO DEVELOP IN
RURAL COMMUNITIES.
IT IS JUST LIKE THIS PERFECT
STORM OF SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING.
THAT DOESN'T -- BECAUSE OF THAT,
THAT TRUTH, IT DOESN'T STOP US
FROM WANTING TO INNOVATE IN
PLACE AND REALLY UNDERSTAND.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU
LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT'S
HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
THERE'S A LOT OF POLICY RIGHT
NOW AND CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOUSING, AND IT'S -- IT'S
COMING, AND IT'S COMING FORWARD.
I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT WE MAY
SEE, IN THE FUTURE, AN INCREASE
IN TAX CREDITS THAT WILL ALLOW
US TO BUILD MORE OR FAVOR TO
HOMEOWNERS, IF IT IS WHAT WE'RE
SEEING -- WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS,
AND IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
HOUSING STOCK IS GETTING A LOT
OLDER, AND IN ORDER FOR ONE TO
BE ABLE TO SELL A HOME, TO
MAINTAIN A HOME, THERE HAS TO BE
AFFORDABLE LENDING, AFFORDABLE
DEBT OR AFFORDABLE TAX CREDITS
THAT ALLOW ONE TO REHAB THEIR
HOME, AND SO WE THINK THAT THAT
POTENTIALLY IS BEING FLOATED
RIGHT NOW AT A FEDERAL LEVEL,
AND SO WE WOULD HOPE AND TRYING
TO SUPPORT IT THROUGH OUR
FEDERAL LEGISLATORS THAT TO SEE
THE INCREASE IN TAX CREDITS OR
POTENTIAL RESOURCES THAT ALLOW
HOMEOWNERS TO FIX THEIR HOMES UP
TO EITHER SELL THEM OR MAINTAIN
THEM, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO US HERE
AND THE DIRECTION WE GO, WHAT
WE'VE DONE IS LISTENED VERY
CAREFULLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS, AND THE PLACES THAT WE
ARE GOING TO GO IN DEEP AND
SUPPORT, I THINK, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, IS REALLY THAT MIDDLE
INCOME AREA.
IT IS THAT AFFORDABLE WORK FORCE
HOUSING AREA TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SUPPORTING THAT, THAT AREA, AND
YOU HEARD ME SAY THROUGH THE
INNOVATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO THE SET
ASIDES OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE
PUTTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS.
THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO
HOME OWNERSHIP DISPARITY,
INTERNALLY, WE POINT THE FINGER
AT US FIRST.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE AND NOT DONE
INTERNALLY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
A PRODUCT THAT OUR CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE, THAT OUR WORK IS
THINKING ABOUT THE BIAS AND
WE'RE ACTIVELY TREATING OUR
PROCESS INTERNALLY, AND THEN,
ALSO, HOW CAN WE USE OUR OWN
PERSONAL CLOUT AND OUR
REPUTATION TO INFLUENCE THE
MARKET, OUR REALTORS, AND OUR
BANKERS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT
IT CAN IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES.
OUR WORKAROUND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES WITH HOUSING.
SO I THINK FOR A LONG TIME WE'VE
BUILT HOUSING AND JUST THOUGHT
THAT THEY WOULD COME, BUT I
THINK WE NEED TO FLIP THAT
AROUND NOW, AND IF WE ARE TO
THINK INNOVATIVELY ABOUT THAT,
THEN WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE
PERSON FIRST.
IF WE HAVE A PERSON AND WE WANT
TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR
WELL-BEING, THEN WE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING
NEEDS TO BE BUILT TO PROTECT
THAT PERSON AND TO GROW THEIR
WELL BEING.
THEN THAT WILL INFORM THE TYPE
OF HOUSING THAT WE NEED TO
BUILD.
HOME BUYING COUNSELING.
YOU HEARD ME SNEAK TO THAT.
WE PUT DOLLARS ASIDE AND
CONTINUE TO FIND PARTNERS
OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN THAT WANT TO HELP
LEVERAGE OUR DOLLARS SO WE
INCREASE THE AMOUNT HOME BUYER
COUNSELORS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
WE SAW A LOSS OF HOME BUYER
COUNSELORS AFTER THE RECESSION.
WE HAVE TO LEAD AND BE A
CATALYST TO HAVE MORE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND THEN
RURAL HOUSING.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES IS THE FACT THAT, AS
A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL
POPULATION, THOSE IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING OLDER,
AND OUR ELDERLY, SOMETIMES THEY
DON'T WANT TO AGE IN PLACE, BUT
THEY DON'T HAVE OPTIONS.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEY DON'T
HAVE OPTION.
HOW DO WE PARTICIPATE IN GETTING
OUR RURAL, EXCUSE ME, OUR
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, OUR
BANKS, AND EVERYBODY TO
UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO LOOK
DEEPER AT OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES
AND DEMOGRAPHICS.
THEY ARE GETTING OLDER.
ALSO, IF YOU SAW RECENTLY IN THE
CENSUS THAT CAME OUT, IS THAT
OUR STATE, OUR STATE'S,
INCLUDING THE MAJORITY OF THE
STATES AND STATE OF WISCONSIN,
IS BECOMING MORE DIVERSE.
AS THAT HAPPENS AND WHAT WE SEE
IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN IS AN
EXPLOSION OF THE LATINO
COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT.
WE HAVE SEEN THE LATINOS ARE
COMING FROM ILLINOIS OR THEY ARE
COMING FROM OTHER STATES BECAUSE
OF OPPORTUNITY FOR JOBS,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUST, I THINK,
JUST THE WONDERFUL WELL BEING
AND LIFE THAT WISCONSIN
PROVIDES, AND SO FOR THAT CASE,
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING IS ALIGNED
WITH THAT?
WHAT TYPE OF ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES AND
ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES IS
ALIGNED WITH THE CHANGING OF THE
DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN?
>> ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO LEAVE
IT THERE.
JOAQUÍN ALTORO OF THE WISCONSIN
HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MORE FROM "HERE & NOW"
AND PBS WISCONSIN, VISIT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG, AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON "NOON
WEDNESDAY."