Both Dodge and Jefferson counties have declined overall between 2010 and 2022 in the percent of those who own or rent that pay 30% or more on their rent or mortgage. However, recently Dodge County saw a slight increase between 2021 and 2022, while Jefferson County declined slightly during that time frame. 

Contributing factors:

• Median household income has increased 33% in Dodge County 34% in 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• Lack of proactive vision in Comprehensive Plans, outdated zoning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. 

Safe, affordable housing is a social determinant of health and an explicit Healthy People 2030 priority.  Access to affordable housing is a top priority of business and municipal leaders throughout the region.  Lack of available housing limits health, workforce availability, tax revenue and school revenue.

• Housing starts have been stagnant since 2008 recession

• Decreased inventory = increased cost

• Rising construction and infrastructure costs

• Lack of proactive vision in Comprehensive Plans, outdated zoning

• Developer profitability less in rural communities

• Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, Housing Authorities, Thrive Economic Development, Human Services, Developers, WHEDA, WEDC

• Non-profits 

• Business and independent Investors

• ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant opportunities

• Expand awareness and knowledge re: barriers limiting affordable housing development

• Municipal technical assistance to create RFP for prioritized development sites

• Low Income Housing Tax Credit Financing, New Market and Historic Tax Credits

• Opportunity Zones and Tax Increment Financing districts

• Public-Private Partnerships

• Revolving Loan Funds

• Land acquisition, Community Land Trusts

• Delayed Developer Fees

• Updated Zoning Codes

     Capacity Building Grant Dollars will Support: 

• City of Jefferson: Professional technical assistance to identify priorities and develop a formal plan for increasing housing development

• City of Watertown: Professional technical assistance to identify priorities and:

  • Create plans for increasing housing development

  • Prioritize 2 workforce housing development sites and establish Requests For Proposal 

  • Respond to developer inquiries

• Dodge & Jefferson County Communities: Provide grant to match funding from Dodge County, Jefferson County and WEDC to make municipal planning services available to all other communities

• Engage consulting expertise to help Jefferson County evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of public-private partnership opportunities

     Impact Investing:

• Provide loan financing for workforce project in Juneau and Reeseville

• Engage business and municipal partners in co-funding a revolving loan fund to provide mezzanine funding for workforce housing projects

• Provide grant funding for a Watertown neighborhood sub-area plan

• Convene potential partners to explore potential co-investment in a Watertown workforce housing development

• Evaluate opportunities to purchase land for future housing development

Data Source - US Census ACS survey 5-year estimate.