Dodge and Jefferson counties have seen decline in the percent of those who own or rent that are cost burdened overall since 2010, declining from 39% to 28% between 2010-2021, but staying flat at 28% between 2021-2022. 

Contributing factors:

• Median household income has increased 34% in Dodge and Jefferson Counties between 2016-2022 per US census ACS survey estimates. 
• Homeowners and renters received mortgage and rent assistance in 2020-2021 due to the pandemic. 

Limiting factors:

• Decreased inventory = increased cost
• Rising construction and infrastructure costs
• Lack of proactive vision in Comprehensive Plans, outdated zoning
• Limited ability to create new housing that is affordable for families in rural areas. 
• Current data is unavailable, preventing a real-time view of the housing market which has experienced strain with the highest average 30-year fixed mortgage rates in 2023 and 2024 since the early 2000's. 

"Lack of safe, affordable housing has been linked to poor economic, health, and socio-economic outcomes, as well as negative academic and behavioral outcomes for children.”  Why Housing Matters for Upward Mobility

Households are considered “cost burdened” if they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Cost-burdened households have little left over each month to spend on other necessities such as food, clothing, utilities, and health care.

Learn more: Housing Instability - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

• ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Grant Opportunities
• Business and Independent Investors
• Developers
• Housing Authorities
• Human Services
• Local Policymakers: Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages
• Nonprofits 
• State Policymakers
• Thrive Economic Development (ThriveED)
• WHEDA - WI Housing & Economic Development Authority
• WEDC - WI Economic Development Corporation

BUILD KNOWLEDGE of barriers limiting affordable housing development

GROW ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY of municipalities with technical assistance 

ACTIVATE FINANCIAL SUPPORTS

• Public-private partnerships
• Revolving loan funds
• Land acquisition, community land trusts
• Delayed developer fees

ADVANCE POLICY  

• Low Income Housing Tax Credit Financing, New Market and Historic Tax Credits
• Opportunity zones and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts
• Updated zoning codes

Leverage Foundation partnerships and resources to activate local, state and federal dollars to support housing development.

1. Provide a loan to Dodge County Housing Authority for workforce housing in Juneau and Reeseville

2. Provide grant and loan funding to build ThriveED’s capacity as Jefferson County’s housing champion. ThriveED will manage

• Live Local Housing Development Fund, providing gap financing to attract developers; 
• Technical assistance, education and advocacy for municipalities;
• Developer outreach; and
• Home buyer counseling and education for buyers/owners at or below 80% Area Median Income.

3. Develop 80+ acres on the former Watertown Bethesda campus.

4. Research & Development: Build regional capacity to advocate for policies and financing resources that support rural housing development. Initiate additional housing partnerships (i.e. purchase and flip blighted homes).

Data is based on SELECTED MONTHLY OWNER COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME (SMOCAPI) and GROSS RENT AS PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME (GRAPI) from the US Census Bureau annual ACS 5-year estimate data. 

*Data from the US Census ACS is an estimate. There is an approximate 2%-4% margin of error at a 90% confidence interval (CI).