RHS Housing Strategy Spotlight
Planning for Senior Housing Part II: Location and Design
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Municipal leaders interested in expanding their senior housing supply should consider the location and design of future development. It's important that seniors are able to move safely within their home and safely access basic services nearby. Location and design are key components of senior housing and aging— allowing older residents to stay in their community where family and support networks exist.
Locating Senior Housing
Due to physical and financial limitations, many seniors do not have access to personal cars, and rely on public transportation, ride share services, or walking to access their basic necessities such as grocery stores, healthcare, community centers, etc. When identifying locations for new senior housing, it’s critical to ensure the units are close to services, bus lines and transportation routes. Safe sidewalks and paths are also essential in new and existing housing for seniors so they can access services by walking, using a walker, or an electric scooter.
Encourage Accessible Design in Housing
Municipal leaders can incentivize developers through a density bonus, or other means, to include universal design features in new single-family home construction, such as no-step entryways, wider hallways and doorways, and first-floor bathrooms.
Municipalities can also encourage developers to create accessible units within new multifamily developments—including larger bathrooms, lower countertops, and bathroom grab bars. The addition of benches or outdoor gathering space in the vicinity of senior housing units also allows seniors to be outdoors, gather, or take a break for rest.
To find out more about senior housing and potential solutions, please join us at the next RHS webinar on the Senior Housing Crisis, Thursday, September 18, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM. See below for more details. Zoom link here.
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Upcoming Regional Housing Network (RHN) Webinar— Please Join Us!
The Senior Housing Crisis
Thursday, September 18, 3:00-4:00PM
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Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025, for our next RHN webinar exploring the senior housing crisis and solutions to better meet the needs of seniors and families in our community. Darrin Wasniewski, Outreach Director, AARP Wisconsin, will discuss local and national senior housing trends and tools; Danny Afable, Development Manager at JT Klein, will discuss how they are working with local communities to bring forward affordable senior housing; and, Olivia Parry, Dane County Senior Planner, will present a new RHS Fact Sheet on Senior Housing. See you there!
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94310243246
| | Need More Housing of Different Types? Eight Dane County Communities Tour Grandview Commons | | | |  | |
On Thursday, August 7, Advisory Committee members from the soon-to-be released Best Practices Residential Zoning Code Guide to Address the Housing Crisis had a tour of Grandview Commons by Brian Munson, Vandewalle & Associates. Eight municipalities attended— including Fitchburg and Stoughton mayors, a Cottage Grove Trustee, and representatives from Waunakee, DeForest, Sun Prairie, Windsor, Madison, and the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
For two hours, tour participants learned about the planned neighborhood, Grandview Commons, first established 20 years ago, and how traditional neighborhood design can help meet the demand for different housing types. Grandview Commons includes small alley-loaded single-family homes to townhomes, multi-family, and larger single-family homes. Pocket parks and open space are integrated so residents can gather or participate in outdoor activities. Grandview Commons also includes senior housing.
For cities and villages in Dane County interested in addressing the housing shortage, Grandview Commons provides a real-world example of bringing together different types and different densities of housing in one neighborhood, at different price points. Some tour participants asked if they could bring their village board, city council or plan commission for a tour - the answer was yes! For more information, of if your community would be interested in a tour, please reach out to Brian Munson, Senior Designer, Vandewalle Associates, at bmunson@vandewalle.com.
Updating local zoning codes can help bring forward more diverse housing. Stay tuned for the Best Practices Residential Zoning Code to Address the Housing Crisis in Dane County, out shortly!
| | Additional Resources -
Learn More About the Senior Housing Crisis Here! | | |
Aging Without Housing: Addressing the Rising Tide of Senior Homelessness - Bipartisan Policy Center
Watch the Bipartisan Policy Center's webinar on the work done by the Senior Health and Housing Task Force, featuring a discussion from Senator Mike Braun and BPC's Center of Housing Policy Executive Director Dennis Shea, and a panel by senior housing experts from across the country.
Housing America's Older Adults 2023 - Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
Read about the unique challenges that seniors face in affording their housing costs, and how the number of cost-burdened seniors will change in future.
The Senior Housing Shortfall - Harvard Magazine
What does it mean to comfortably age in place? What resources and policies are needed to keep seniors connected to their communities?
Home Repairs Are Out of Reach for Many Lower-Income Homeowners- Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
Learn about the challenges and financial barriers that low-income households face to maintain and make repairs to their homes.
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Affordable Homeownership Development, Programs, and Services - Applicant Workshop Video Now Available!
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The City of Madison Community Development Division (CDD) has released the Financing for Affordable Homeownership Development, Programs, and Services Request for Proposals (Affordable Homeownership RFP).
This RFP supports efforts to expand access to homeownership by financing the construction, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable owner-occupied housing in Madison. Funding is also available for homebuyer assistance, minor home repairs, and homeownership education programs.
Up to six vacant residential lots in the Owl Creek neighborhood will be available for new affordable owner-occupied development.
The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12:00PM. Please visit the CDD Funding Opportunities website to view the RFP guidelines.
Applicant Workshop Video— Applicant Workshop video can be viewed here.
Please direct all questions to Maria Davila-Martinez, Community Development Specialist, at mdavila-martinez@cityofmadison.com.
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Events, Conferences & Opportunities
Upcoming Housing Presentation— Curds of Wisdom
Expanding Housing Choice: Housing Mobility Programs
Wednesday, September 10, 12:00PM
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Learn about Opportunity MKE, a housing mobility initiative of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council (MMFHC), to expand housing choices and empower renters to lease up in high opportunities areas in Milwaukee County. Stefanie Ebbers from MMFHC will present strategies to recruit housing providers to rent to program participants. Register here.
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Wisconsin APA Conference
Thursday, September 11-Friday, September 12, 2025
La Crosse Center (300 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse)
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Join us at WAPA’s 2025 Annual Conference— Bridging Connections: Laying the Foundation for the Future! The conference will focus on the interconnections of various planning disciplines and their role in shaping communities of tomorrow. From mobility and housing to public health and the environment, this conference will explore how planners can create forward-thinking, collaborative, and cohesive strategies that pave the way for resilient, thriving communities.
**The deadline for online registration has passed. In-person registration is available during the conference, with payment by check only.
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Midwest Regional Community Land Trust Conference
Tuesday, October 7- Thursday, October 9, 2025
Park Hotel (22 S. Carroll Street, Madison)
Registration is open for the 2025 Midwest CLT Conference, happening October 7-9, 2025 at the Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. Join community land trust practitioners, housing advocates, and partners from across the region for:
· Interactive Workshops & Panels
· Local Spotlights & Experiences
· Inspiring Speakers
· Networking Opportunities
Whether you are new to CLTs or a seasoned pro, this conference is a chance to learn, connect, and grow with others dedicated to advancing permanently affordable housing in the Midwest.
Attend the FREE Opening Day Sessions
The opening day of the Midwest CLT Conferences is free to the public! Register here to join housing professionals in the region to learn about community land trusts and their origins, followed by a networking happy hour.
Roots of the CLT Movement: A Historical Journey
1:00-2:30PM
CLT 101: The Basics of Community Land Trusts
3:00-4:30PM
Networking Happy Hour
4:30PM-7:00PM
For more information about the event, visit the conference website at www.midwestcltcon.com.
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How Housing Happens Conference
Wednesday, November 12-Thursday, November 13, 2025
Monona Terrace (1 John Nolen Drive, Madison)
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Register now for the Annual WHEDA Conference— How Housing Happens, taking place at the Monona Terrace on Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13, 2025. The conference will connect housing professionals across the state to learn about industry changes and work together to find new ways to expand affordable housing throughout Wisconsin.
Click here for more information and to register for the conference. Register by September 15, 2025 to access early bird pricing. Standard registration closes on November 1, 2025.
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Madison Area Community Land Trust Executive Director Olivia Williams is stepping down from her position after five years to pursue a role in national CLT consultation. MACLT is looking for a new Executive Director with experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leading a CLT or affordable housing nonprofit organization. Click here to learn more about the role and apply!
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| | Volunteer Opportunity— Help Dane County Seniors Age in Place Comfortably! | | |
New Bridge Madison is seeking volunteers to take part in their Home Chore Program, which assists seniors in completing everyday tasks, allowing them to maintain their independence while forming connections with members of their community. Volunteers can expect to help with tasks such as cleaning, yard work, and minor home repairs.
The Home Chore Program encourages both individuals and groups to apply and would be a great team building activity that allows you to give back to the community. Visit their website to volunteer as an individual, or to sign up your organization or group of friends/family for team volunteering. For any questions about volunteering, email New Bridge’s Volunteer Coordinator, Keisha Furniss, at keishaf@newbridgemadison.org
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