In its ongoing effort to effectively address homelessness, the Dane County Board is eyeing funding for a unique housing project on Madison’s far west side along with a drop-in service facility downtown.
At its regular 7 p.m. meeting Thursday, the board is expected to approve a $1 million land contribution for a permanent supportive housing facility at 7933 Tree Lane off Mineral Point Road.
The $11.7 million project from Heartland Development of Chicago calls for 19 two-bedroom units, 23 three-bedroom units and 22 four-bedroom units. Residents will also be offered a full range of support services at the site.
“The Tree Lane project is bringing much needed three-and-four-bedroom affordable family housing to Madison,” said County Supervisor Carousel Bayrd, whose district on the west side of Madison includes the new development. “The location could not be better. It’s across the street from excellent public schools and is located close to shopping and Metro service.”
The city of Madison is also contributing $1.6 million for the Tree Lane project, which is slated for a groundbreaking this spring and could be ready for occupancy by April 2018. All land use approvals in addition to federal low-income tax credits have been secured.
“I’m very proud of our collaborative efforts with the city to get this done,” said Bayrd.
Also Thursday, the Dane County Board will consider a resolution for $2.3 million toward development of a long-sought day resource center for the homeless.
Located six blocks from the state Capitol at 615 E. Washington Ave., the center is expected to open this summer and provide more comprehensive services than anything previously offered in the community.
Catholic Charities Madison will operate the center and has committed to raising $150,000 a year to help run it. The center is to operate year-round, seven days a week.
The Dane County Board approved the purchase of the building in July for $1.75 million. It was the former headquarters for the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.
After renovations, the two-story building will feature laundry facilities, showers, storage space, a self-serve kitchenette, a computer room and separate day rooms for single adults and families with children. It will also include private offices and meeting rooms so visitors can receive community services, health care and addiction treatment.
The county had earlier purchased the Messner properties on the 1300 block of East Washington Avenue but later decided to pursue a center closer to the Capitol Square. The County Board is now looking to use that site to facilitate affordable housing in the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood.
“The center will not only provide a full range of services, it’s located where it can reach those most in need of help,” said County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan. “Everyone involved in this project deserves credit for taking the time to do it right.”
The County Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. in Room 201 of the City County Building at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Also on the agenda is:
· Purchase of a 48-acre addition to Cam-Rock County Park on the eastern side of the county. The park includes a network of volunteer developed mountain bike trails considered some of the best in the Midwest.
· Accepting $200,000 in additional funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to assist with a program to use pre-trial assessments to reduce the number of incarcerations at the Dane County Jail.
