Dane County Housing Authority

Summary: Faced with continuing growth in housing need, the Dane County Housing Authority hired the Partnership to lead them through the process of developing a new five-year strategic plan. Click here to view or download the report in PDF.

Wisconsin Partnership's role: Consultant

Staff contact: Kristin Silva

Status of work: Completed in 2002

Housing need in Dane County continues to grow, even as financial support for lower-income housing continues to decrease. Intent on playing a pivotal role in finding new ways of furthering the cause of affordable housing, the Dane County Housing Authority (DCHA) recently completed a strategic planning process resulting in a new five-year strategic plan.

The planning process grew out of the DCHA Board of Commissioners' commitment to meeting the changing needs brought on by today's housing climate. The Partnership, working under its HOME program technical assistance contract with HUD, led the DCHA through a detailed process including stakeholder interviews, a survey of public housing residents, and an intensive series of planning exercises for board members and staff. The resulting plan, adopted early in 2002, covers 2003 through 2007

The plan contains six major policy sections. Three of them detail plans for continuing the DCHA's successful existing programs, Public Housing, Home Ownership and Section 8. Two others, Organizational Capacity and Public Presence, describe internal changes the DCHA will make to ensure that it provides the most efficient and useful services possible. The final section commits the DCHA to a new policy area, seeking permanent housing alternatives for homeless families and individuals. The plan document also includes a detailed timetable for implementing the strategies contained in each section.

Click here to view or download the report in PDF.