Community Development Division awards $2 million in Crisis Intervention and Prevention funding
More than $2 million in funding will be provided to community partners working to promote the safety and wellbeing among young people, individuals, and families in Madison after the Common Council voted to approve the Community Development Division’s Crisis Intervention and Prevention program funding recommendations during its meeting on December 9, 2025.
In August 2025, the Community Development Division issued a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking community-based organizations to provide services aligned with one of two key priority areas:
- Crisis Intervention Support Services, including 24/7 helplines and short-term shelter for those experiencing gender-based violence or youth without safe housing; and
- Prevention Services and Activities, which work “upstream” to enhance community connections, promote long-term wellbeing, and preemptively reduce the risk factors for crisis before they happen.
Selection Process
Applications were due in late September. In all, 32 agencies applied, requesting more than $4.5 million in City funding. The 2026 City of Madison Operating Budget set aside a total of a little more than $2 million for these programs, meaning City staff had to make some tough choices, and most agencies did not receive their full funding request.
CDD evaluated proposals using criteria outlined in the RFP in addition to reviews conducted by an interdisciplinary panel, including staff from Dane County Human Services, the Immigration Affairs Office, Public Health Madison & Dane County (Violence Prevention), the Madison Police Department, and the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Additional factors informing the funding recommendations included geographic distribution of services, past grant performance, demonstrated community need, organizational connections to the populations served, coordination and collaboration with other providers, and service type. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of community needs, staff also incorporated input from program reports, site visits, and the 2025 Community Voice Survey.
Funding Recommendations
Of the 32 agencies that responded to the RFP, 24 were recommended for funding. This includes 10 programs new to the Crisis Intervention and Prevention portfolio, expanding both the range of services and the communities supported across Madison.
Contracts awarded through this funding cycle are expected to begin on January 1, 2026, and may be extended annually through December 31, 2029, contingent upon Common Council approval in future operating budgets and satisfactory progress toward contractual goals.
Agencies receiving funding in this cycle include:
| Agency | Program | Current Funding | Requested Funding | Approved Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Center for Community Development | Bantaba Family | $0 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Allied Wellness Center for Community Development | Teens Taking Charge | $0 | $34,739 | $20,000 |
| Allied Wellness Center for Community Development | Community Health Workers: Partners in Health | $70,000 | $109,221 | $73,000 |
| ARC Community Services | Project Respect | $58,000 | $59,740 | $59,000 |
| Bayview Community Center | Youth Restoration and Community Building | $30,000 | $45,000 | $32,000 |
| Bayview Community Center | Family Support | $20,000 | $45,000 | $25,000 |
| Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center | Family Resource Center | $22,000 | $125,000 | $25,000 |
| Briarpatch Youth Services | Runaway and Homeless Youth | $40,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Briarpatch Youth Services | YouthBridge 608 | $0 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Domestic Abuse Intervention Services | Shelter program | $299,354 | $374,517 | $315,000 |
| East Madison Community Center | Holistic Organization of Partners for Economic Stability (HOPES) | $0 | $120,000 | $25,000 |
| Freedom Inc. | Family Strengthening | $75,000 | $100,000 | $79,000 |
| GSafe (Joint Applicant: Forward Learning Youth & Young Adults) | Elevate | $0 | $160,970 | $25,000 |
| JustDane (Joint Applicant: Centro Hispano) | Intervention Services for Legal System Impacted Individuals and Families | $301,000 | $450,000 | $315,000 |
| Kennedy Heights Community Center | Fostering Restorative and Healthy Neighborhood Culture | $0 | $40,000 | $35,000 |
| Literacy Network | Community English Program | $44,310 | $100,000 | $45,000 |
| Lussier Community Center | Community Cultivation and Access Program | $0 | $109,584 | $25,000 |
| Meadowood Health Partnership | Crisis Intervention and Prevention | $0 | $85,000 | $30,000 |
| Mentoring Positives | Positive Path | $0 | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Neighborhood House Community Center | Community Support Program | $0 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Northside Planning Council | Strengthening Northside Neighborhoods | $65,000 | $80,500 | $67,000 |
| RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center (Joint Applicant: UNIDOS) | 24-Hour Helpline | $178,567 | $250,000 | $190,000 |
| RCC: Sexual Violence Resource Center (Joint Applicant: UNIDOS) | Community and Stabilization Program | $0 | $105,065 | $20,000 |
| Roots4Change | Community-Based Doulas | $0 | $60,000 | $30,000 |
| The Rainbow Project | Rainbow Response Team | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| The Rainbow Project | Community-Based Individual and Family Support Program | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Vera Court Neighborhood Center | Family Resource Center | $22,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 |
| Worker Justice Wisconsin (Joint Applicant: Voces de la Frontera) | Know Your Rights, Educate Your Community | $10,000 | $150,000 | $25,000 |
| YWCA Madison | YW Transit Program | $74,548 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| YWCA Madison | Youth Restorative Justice Circle Keepers | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| YWCA Madison | Third Street Program | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| TOTAL | $1,674,779 | $3,324,336 | $2,080,000 |
More information about these programs and the justification for the funding recommendations made by the Community Development Division are available in a publicly posted staff report.
Full copies of each application are also posted publicly on the Community Development Division’s Crisis Intervention and Services RFP webpage.
About the Community Development Division
The City of Madison Community Development Division's mission is to support the necessary conditions for all residents to thrive and reach their highest potential. Through the Community Resources Unit in Community Development Division (CDD), the City of Madison aims to work in partnership and collaboration with residents, community partners, stakeholders, and other funders to overcome barriers to opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and promote shared prosperity and wellbeing for all.
