July 9, 2025
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region is proud to announce the selection of five future homeowners – two in La Crosse and three in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. This milestone represents the next phase in Habitat’s mission to provide and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities.
Habitat homeowners are selected through a competitive application process based on three criteria: their ability to repay an affordable mortgage, their need for safe and stable housing, and their willingness to partner with Habitat by contributing sweat equity hours and participating in homeownership education.
In La Crosse, one of the selected homeowners will join a transformative development project in the Washburn Neighborhood. This partnership between Habitat and Three Sixty Real Estate Solutions, LLC, includes a mixed-income, multi-unit rental development led by Three Sixty and two single-family homes developed by Habitat. In a creative act of preservation and revitalization, one home will be physically moved from a corner of the site to the Habitat-designated parcel, where it will be rehabbed by Habitat’s team and volunteers. Both the home and land were generously donated by Three Sixty.
“This project exemplifies what’s possible when private development and nonprofit missions align,” said Marvin Wanders, owner of Three Sixty. “We’re proud to work with Habitat to create a space that’s inclusive, forward-thinking, and community-centered.”
Zang Xiong and his family feel great about their new home. “It will be nice to work with Habitat and the volunteers on my new home,” says Zeng. Zeng, his wife Xia, and their four children have been selected to be one of the new Habitat homeowners in the Washburn development.
In 2022, Mayo Clinic Health System joined residents, community leaders and local organizations in a collaborative neighborhood visioning process to better understand the priorities of the Washburn neighborhood and beyond. Through this effort, one need emerged as especially urgent: access to safe, affordable housing. In response, Mayo Clinic Health System committed to being part of the solution by selling a parcel of land located in the heart of the neighborhood. That commitment is now coming to life with the announcement of two new Habitat for Humanity homes being developed on the site.
“When we took part in the neighborhood visioning process, the message from the community was clear—safe, affordable housing was a top priority,” said Scott Okuno, M.D., physician site lead at Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Wisconsin. “We listened, and we acted by making this land available for homes that will serve families for generations. It’s deeply rewarding to see that vision becoming reality through the work of Habitat for Humanity and our dedicated community partners. We’re proud to support initiatives that strengthen health, dignity and opportunity in the neighborhoods we serve.”
In addition to housing, the Washburn Neighborhood project includes the redevelopment of the community garden, which will now be leased to Habitat from Three Sixty. The revitalized green space will be used for neighborhood engagement, food production, and youth programming—an extension of Habitat’s ReNew the Block initiative to support neighborhood health and sustainability.
“This partnership with Three Sixty is a perfect example of how we can creatively address affordable housing while investing in the fabric of neighborhoods,” said Kahya Fox, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region. “This isn’t just about building homes – it’s about building community.”
Meanwhile, in Hillsboro, three new homeowners have been selected to join Habitat’s nationally recognized CrossMod home development, an innovative rural housing solution. These energy-efficient, factory-built homes blend the affordability of modular construction with the aesthetics and permanence of traditional housing. The Hillsboro project is one of only a handful in the nation using CrossMod technology to tackle rural housing shortages and has drawn attention from housing experts, community leaders, and government officials.
Future Hillsboro homeowner Wendy Johnson knows all too well how hard it is to own your own home. “In today’s world they have made it nearly impossible to be a homeowner,” she says. “My family and I have been jumping place to place trying to figure out the best place to plant our roots for our children without being house-poor, but everything has seemed so out of reach.”
Habitat’s development in Hillsboro will feature ten new homes for a variety of income levels and will bring much-needed housing to the community. To learn more about the project, visit www.habitatlacrosse.org/hillsboro.
Each new Habitat homeowner will complete at least 150 hours of sweat equity, working alongside volunteers to help build their own home and others in the community. Homes will be sold at full appraised value, and Habitat will work one-on-one with each buyer to develop an affordable mortgage. Homeowners are responsible for paying property taxes and insurance, just like any other homeowner. Each homeowner’s monthly payment will not exceed 30% of their income.
From innovative partnerships in La Crosse to national recognition in Hillsboro, Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region continues to pioneer real solutions for the region’s housing crisis—proving that collaboration, creativity, and commitment can help every family find a place to call home.
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