Dane County Executive Joe Parisi introduced a new cooperative housing initiative in a press release Wednesday as part of an alternative approach to providing accommodations for the region’s homeless population.
The prospective co-op is Parisi’s latest effort to utilize a stipulation in the county’s 2013 budget that allocates $1.1 million to reducing homelessness in the area, according to the press release.
The county executive’s office is requesting $250,000 to develop a cooperative living unit large enough to serve at least 20 individuals.
Supervisor Carousel Bayrd, who authored the budget amendment, said Parisi’s initiative fits her vision of defeating homelessness by creating more stable housing in Madison.
“This initiative is exactly what we were working towards, leveraging county funds to team with others to develop permanent solutions to our housing needs,” Bayrd said in a statement.
In an accompanying letter, the county executive’s office asked Mayor Paul Soglin and Madison’s City Council to collaborate on the project, which county executive spokesperson Carrie Springer said would increase the likelihood of the project’s success.
“The county is committed to working together with people to solve this problem,” Springer said. “This isn’t a problem that one government entity or one group can solve alone.”
Springer said she is “optimistic” that the city will agree to work with Dane County, but Parisi is prepared to move forward if the city declines.
If the Board of Supervisors grants approval to the measure at one of its upcoming meetings, the Dane County Department of Human Services will seek official proposals from public, private and non-profit agencies.
