Wisconsin Housing Affordability Advocacy Strategy

HBA: Wisconsin Builders Association

Category: Government Affairs

Location: Madison, Wis.

Size: State Association

Year: 2025

The Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) executed a year-long advocacy strategy to educate and engage its members in legislative sessions by providing resources with clear, consistent messaging on key policies that are affecting housing affordability. The WBA's comprehensive communication strategies included a booklet that outlined complex policy issues to build confidence in its members, videos with timely updates on the legislative process and a dedicated Lobby Day where members leveraged their provided resources to guide conversations with legislators. The primary goal was to build an advocacy effort that would amplify the voice and impact of the association while strengthening relationships with local policymakers and achieve meaningful legislative outcomes.

The effort proved to be very successful, resulting in all four of the priority housing bills supported by the organization being passed by the legislature. Beyond demonstrating the presence of the WBA when important industry decisions are made, this initiative helped to establish a more informed and engaged member experience that prioritizes unified and strategic approaches to advocacy.