The City of Red Wing’s Housing Summit on Oct. 29 was an encouraging first step. Leaders from across sectors came together to discuss one of our community’s greatest challenges—and greatest opportunities—housing. It was heartening to see so many people working toward solutions.

Housing affects everything — our workforce, schools, economy, and community health. When families can’t find safe, affordable places to live, the costs ripple through every corner of our county. Employers are struggling to attract and keep workers because too many families can’t find housing they can afford near their jobs. All types of housing are needed to solve the crisis – quality rentals and attainable homes for purchase, and not just in Red Wing but across Goodhue County.

At Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity, our part of that puzzle is helping working families become first-time homeowners through partnership and hard work. Habitat homebuyers purchase their market-priced homes with an affordable mortgage and invest hundreds of hours of sweat equity to help build their home. Families pay taxes, gain stability, build equity, and strengthen neighborhoods.

Habitat for Humanity is proud to be part of the solution, but we can’t meet the full demand alone. Our volunteer-build model produces a few homes each year – life- changing for those families, but far short of the need. That’s why we need strong public and private partnerships that make it feasible for developers and contractors to build more workforce and affordable homes. With the right programs, incentives, and creative financing, every sector can help close the housing gap.

We’re doing our part through HOPE Heights – a new neighborhood of 26 energy-efficient Habitat homes on Red Wing’s former St. John’s Hospital site. Over the past year, we’ve focused on site planning, engineering, and funding to prepare for

construction. Major infrastructure work begins in early spring 2026, followed by the first twin home soon after.

But Red Wing’s housing challenges won’t be solved by focusing on Red Wing alone.

Every city and township in Goodhue County can and should be part of the solution – identifying buildable land, aligning incentives, and supporting partnerships that make homes attainable for the people who power our communities. I left the Housing Summit

encouraged but aware that progress depends on each of us.It’s easy to assume someone else will take the lead, but lasting change requires everyone’s involvement. Let’s build on this momentum and come together soon and often for a Goodhue County Housing Alliance to plan for housing at every stage of life and work.

Together, we can build homes, build hope, and build community.

Read the Op Ed published in the Red Wing Republican Eagle: Housing is everyone’s business – and everyone’s opportunity | Opinion | republicaneagle.com and Housing is everyone’s business — and everyone’s opportunity – Goodhue-Bellechester Messenger