Madison’s Housing Initiatives, a provider of permanent supportive housing for people with severe mental illness and a history of homelessness, is moving forward with plans to construct a three-story building with 16 residential units at 1802 and 1804 Roth St., the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
The facility would be located across the street from Housing Initiatives’ main administrative headquarters on the city’s east side. It would offer nine studios and seven one-bedroom units for people earning less than 50% of Dane County’s median income who have been homeless for at least a year and have a clinically diagnosed mental health condition.
Residents with any income would pay 30% of their income in rent, with the rest of the rent covered by federal subsidies.
The building, replacing a two-unit townhome built in 1932, would have office space for staff, a community area and a large porch, in addition to housing. Housing Initiatives would cover all units’ utilities and — in order to cut up-front and monthly costs — is seeking an exemption to a state law that requires multifamily housing projects to have individual electric meters in each unit.
The City Council approved the roughly $4.9 million project on Aug. 5 following its advancement by Madison’s Plan Commission late last month. The city awarded nearly $4.2 million in federal COVID relief funds to Housing Initiatives in early 2025, with as much as $3 million meant for construction and up to $1.1 million for onsite support services after the facility opens.
Housing Initiatives is reportedly seeking an additional grant and a loan to fund the rest of construction.
