Completed home at Habitat for Humanity dedication event in Fox Crossing. January 8, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Fox Crossing family of three was given the keys to their own home Thursday.
The hard work of Habitat for Humanity, community partners and dedicated volunteers made it possible.
According to the most recent count from Habitat for Humanity, the Fox Valley needs more than 18,000 homes to keep up with housing demands.
“As housing prices continue to go up, availability is low,” said Great Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity President John Weyenberg. “The wages in our community just aren’t keeping pace with the increase in costs.”
“I think part of what Habitat does is something that we want to continue to participate in, and help them to facilitate meeting those needs for the 18,000,” said Ken Baumgart, Faith Technologies vice president. The company was part of the effort to construct the “Leader Build” home, alongside several other local businesses.
President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to take steps to stop large investors from buying single family homes. He said people live in homes, not corporations.
Weyenberg said it’s a problem facing every housing market.
“We haven’t seen it quite as much in the Fox Cities as in some of the larger metro markets, but definitely as large investors start to buy up property, it drives up prices because the demand is high already, so as a result, higher prices means it’s less affordable for the working families of our community,” he said.
Hans Bachmeier, president of CMD Corporation, said the plan could be a step in the right direction.
“Sounds like that should enable organizations like Habitat for Humanity to continue their good causes so that land isn’t purchased for other needs and commercial reasons,” he said.
Habitat works to buy land and create affordable housing.
“It’s very different,” Baumgart added. “It’s community-based, and they’re able to work with companies to make that land available.”
Habitat is also continuing local efforts to expand affordable housing.
“Finding ways for community resources to come together, sharing expertise from a variety of different sectors,” Weyenberg explained. “And also rallying around the support of legislation that is going to have a dramatic impact on the creation of additional workforce housing here in the Fox Cities.”
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