Madison Reporter

The City of Madison’s Community Development Division highlighted the impact of Community Development Block Grants on affordable housing in the city over the past year. In 2023, approximately $2 million in funding was allocated to rehabilitate and preserve more than 300 affordable housing units through the Capital Improvements for Non-profit Housing (CINH) program.

According to the report, the funds were distributed to various non-profit housing providers in Madison, including Common Wealth Development, Madison Area Community Land Trust, Madison Development Corporation, Movin Out, and Porchlight.

Speaking about the program's requirements, it was stated that agencies had to be organized as non-profits under Chapter 181 of Wisconsin State Statute. Additionally, more than half of the units in the proposed projects were required to accommodate individuals with incomes at or below 80% of Dane County’s median income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Under the terms of the program, recipients of the funding were obligated to own the housing and ensure its affordability for a minimum of five years following project completion. Eligible projects included a range of improvements such as rehabilitation for deferred maintenance, structural renovations, asbestos abatement, safety measures, and energy efficiency enhancements.

The article also mentioned that grants and loans for property rehabilitation were available not only to non-profits but also to owners of single-family homes through Project Home and owners of rental properties via the City of Madison’s rental rehab program.

For those interested in learning more about funding opportunities and staying informed about new opportunities, the City of Madison's website offers resources and the option to sign up for email alerts.