Some Dane County residents earn too much to qualify for subsidized or low-cost housing, yet their income falls short for market-rate apartments or homes, creating housing challenges that are impacting business recruitment, area mayors noted during a meeting last week, according to a Wisconsin State Journalreport. Monona Mayor Mary O’Connor referred to this group as the “invisible middle” during the Nov. 8 event hosted by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. The issue of housing affordability affects not only residents but also businesses in the Madison area striving to attract employees.
Mayor Luke Diaz of Verona echoed O’Connor’s sentiments, emphasizing the difficulty faced by individuals who fall in the income range where securing suitable housing becomes a challenge. According to Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, the shortage of new housing stock is approximately 3,000 to 4,000 units, making the housing crisis the foremost challenge in the region.
Mayors from seven cities, including Middleton, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, and Stoughton, discussed their respective initiatives to address the housing problem. Middleton Mayor Emily Kuhn highlighted a forthcoming survey to identify the city’s most pressing housing needs, while Sun Prairie Mayor Paul Esser emphasized the importance of recognizing the presence of this demographic, often overlooked despite contributing to the community.
Stoughton Mayor Tim Swadley shared the city’s efforts to build single-family housing and duplexes, emphasizing the need to revise zoning codes to create “missing middle” housing, a sentiment echoed by Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta.
The panel also touched on other pertinent issues, including transit needs, the ongoing workforce shortage, and the expected influx of individuals relocating to the region for work and residence.
