After an extensive search by City real estate, Madison and Dane County are planning to purchase a vacant big-box retail store near East Towne for a permanent shelter for homeless men.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how critical it is for us to provide shelter for everyone,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway in a statement. “Our goal is to develop a purpose-built shelter facility to support single homeless men that will offer a full range of supports that can lead its users to more stable long-term housing.”
“Dane County is proud to partner on another project that cares for our most vulnerable, building upon our successes with the Beacon Day Resource Center,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “The $3 million I included in this year’s county budget will go toward both acquisition and remodeling costs.”
The 31,500-square-foot property that is being acquired at 2002 Zeier Road is a former Savers store and will cost $2.6 million. The City and County each included $3 million in their respective budgets to support the acquisition and renovation of property for use as a permanent men’s shelter.
