1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I’m writing as a Bayside resident and Milwaukee County constituent who was recently laid off and is feeling the direct impact of rising costs across our region. Housing, transportation, and basic living expenses have all risen faster than wages, and families throughout Milwaukee County are being squeezed in ways that are becoming unsustainable. Shelter inflation is one of the biggest pressures on household budgets, and our county has a clear shortage of attainable homes near job centers, transit, and walkable neighborhoods. Rents in many parts of the Milwaukee metro area have climbed sharply, and the lack of housing options is pushing workers farther from employment opportunities and increasing overall cost burdens. This is not just a personal hardship—it’s a structural problem that weakens our regional economy and makes it harder for people to stay connected to work, schools, and community life. I’m asking you to prioritize policies that expand housing supply where it’s actually needed, including federal programs that help communities like Milwaukee County build more homes near transit, streamline zoning and permitting, and invest in construction capacity. These steps would reduce inflation by increasing supply rather than relying solely on demand‑crushing tools that risk putting more people out of work. As someone who just lost my job, I’m especially concerned about anti‑inflation strategies that depend on weakening the labor market instead of addressing the real shortages driving up costs. Milwaukee County has the workforce, the demand, and the potential to grow, but we need federal support to overcome long‑standing housing constraints and bring down the cost of living. Please make housing supply, affordability, and economic resilience central priorities in the upcoming legislative session.