The River Valley is an excellent place to live and work. People want to live here, develop businesses here, and contribute to the area's economic vibrancy. However, the River Valley does not have the housing needed to grow or even sustain this quality of life. Countless stories illustrate this shortage, including:

• The restaurant that can't open as many hours as they want because they can't find or house staff.

• The widow who lives in the country and would love to get away from the maintenance of a large property but can't find a house with a smaller lot.

• The young family that would love a house with some acreage in the country but can't find one.

• The out-of-town person who is offered a job in the area but turns it down, partially because of the challenges of finding a new home, especially with three kids.

• The retired person who relocates to another state to be closer to their adult child and grandkids rather than having the family return to the River Valley. The child and spouse both have remote jobs and could work from anywhere but can't find adequate housing in the area.

To remain economically viable, the River Valley must address its housing problem. If it does not, the opportunity for sustaining and ultimately growing its communities will be lost. Without workers, there are fewer services, less vibrant businesses, and lost opportunities for cultural diversity. This situation means that potential new residents and tourists go elsewhere to live and recreate, and the area's vitality is lessened. Fewer new residents mean less new knowledge and energy to the community, eventually impacting commercial life, service organizations, and overall community spirit.

The River Valley Housing Coalition is working together to bring more housing to the River Valley School District's geographic area, which includes the villages of Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, and Spring Green and the towns of Arena, Buena Vista, Clyde, Franklin, Spring Green, Troy, and Wyoming.

The Coalition includes individuals with interest and expertise in housing — architects, lenders, local government officials, health care, and others.

If you are interested in joining the Coalition, please contact us at housing@rivervalleycommons.org. You can support the Coalition by joining our mailing list, donating, or volunteering.