Madison Reporter

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is promoting the impact of the Housing Forward anti-homelessness program heading into 2022. 

Homelessness remains a problem in Madison in the midst of these efforts and help from nonprofit organizations. 

The mayor proposed the Housing Forward initiative in April of 2021.

“Now that it’s 2022, it’s a good time to look back at last year’s accomplishments. When it comes to housing, city staff have accomplished an incredible amount of work in a short time," Rhodes-Conway said in a post to her official Twitter account on Jan. 3.  

Rhodes-Conway also discussed the progress that was made last year despite obstacles and her hopes that the progress will continue into 2022. 

“We have made great progress, and my work to provide safe, affordable housing for Madison continues in 2022. #HousingForward,” Rhodes-Conway said in a post to her official Twitter account on Jan. 3. 

This initiative contains five primary end goals: Increase housing choice, create more affordable housing options, “combat displacement and segregation,” ensure seniors can remain in their homes and work to end homelessness. The mayor has released a Housing Forward Update, outlining the initiative’s accomplishments for 2021. These accomplishments consisted of promoting investments in affordable housing, earmarking $22 million in federal funding to avoid evictions and increasing options for shelters.

In particular, the mayor was pleased with how much was accomplished in a limited amount of time in 2021, according to a message from the City of Madison mayor's office. This would not have been possible without the program's extensive nonprofit partners. The common council also provided significant support for the program to help make it possible. 

More than 600 people are homeless in Madison every night, demonstrating the impact these programs could have. The average home cost in Madison has increased by $50,000 in the last 10 years as well, making it harder to find and maintain housing.