Nighttime view of downtown Madison skyline with Lake Monona in the foreground
Mayor's Office

Housing Forward

Red, multifamily homes with gardens in front

In order to keep up with our current pace of growth and address one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the United States, the City of Madison is setting an ambitious goal to support the creation of 15,000 new homes by 2030.

Additionally, the City is aiming for at least 25% of those new homes to have long-term affordability at below-market rates for those making 60% of the Area Median Income or less. This level of growth would keep pace with population growth and also help bring Madison to a healthy vacancy rate to ease housing price pressures.

The Housing Forward initiative was was first launched in 2021 to address housing needs in Madison. It outlines a multi-pronged approach to address Madison’s housing needs. 

Increase Housing Choice

Notable Accomplishments:

  1. Planning efforts to match growth projections with housing opportunities

  2. Zoning code changes to support more housing and more housing types

  3. Proactive rezonings around regional malls and former Oscar Mayer plant to ease path for significant housing development

What's Next:

  1. Pursue policy support for condos

  2. Use TIF for affordable homeownership

  3. More code and process changes to support infill & “missing middle” housing

  4. Pre-approved plans for Accessory Dwelling Units

  5. Continue process improvements to provide clarity and maintain pace

Create Affordable Housing throughout the City

Notable Accomplishments:

  1. Committed $59M to create over 1,700 rental homes with long-term affordability

  2. City-initiated redevelopment will support another 1,700 affordable homes

  3. Committed $1.35 M towards owner-occupied homes with long-term affordability

What's Next:

  1. Complete redevelopment of the Triangle as model for public housing portfolio

  2. Continue strategic land-banking near transit for longer-term housing redevelopment efforts

  3. Commit $32 M to the Affordable Housing Fund in the next two years

Combating Displacement & Homelessness

Notable Accomplishments:

  1. Supporting building rehabilitation & repair programs

  2. Downpayment assistance program

  3. Property tax assistance for older adults

  4. Eviction defense funding

  5. New Men’s Shelter under construction

What's Next:

  1. Phase redevelopment of public housing

  2. Phase redevelopment of public housing

  3. Continued support for MadCAP

  1. Support new shelter for women & children

  2. Supporting creation of housing to transition people out of homelessness

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