DANE COUNTY – Dane County will award $3,926,399 in funding through a unique new program focused on preserving existing units of affordable housing across Dane County, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard announced today. It’s the fund’s first-ever round of awards, anticipated to preserve and/or rehabilitate 65 units of housing in the communities of Fitchburg, Stoughton, and Madison, and create four new units of affordable housing in the Village of Waunakee.
“Preserving the affordable housing we already have is one of the smartest and most cost-effective ways to address our housing crisis,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “These investments will keep dozens of families and individuals stably housed, protect long-term affordability in communities across Dane County, and ensure that existing homes remain safe, livable, and within reach for people at a range of incomes. This first round of awards reflects our commitment to using every tool available to meet urgent housing needs while building a stronger, more equitable county.”...
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Leo`s notes: Dane County’s new preservation fund underscores a critical but often overlooked truth in the housing crisis: protecting the affordable homes we already have is just as important—and far more cost-effective—than building new ones. By investing nearly $4 million to rehabilitate and preserve 65 existing units while adding modest new supply, the county is stabilizing families, preventing displacement, and extending affordability for decades. As leaders like Melissa Agard have emphasized, preservation is not a stopgap—it’s a core housing strategy that keeps communities whole while new construction catches up.
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- - Volume: 26 - WEEK: 3 Date: 1/12/2026 3:56:47 PM -