Housed at YWCA Madison’s Empowerment Center, our Community Housing Justice programs equip participants with the tools and support needed to secure and maintain stable housing. Through individualized case management, financial literacy education, and guidance navigating housing systems, participants gain the confidence and resources to build lasting stability.

Community Housing

Rapid Rehousing

Rapid Rehousing is a program that assists families moving out of homelessness (from shelter or on the streets) and into permanent housing by providing case management and a small rent subsidy for six months. Income sufficiency to pay rent, as well as having minor children in the home, is required to be in the program. Once housing is secured, families have the opportunity to work with a case manager for six months to work on goals that ensure housing stability. Case management services are provided by YWCA Madison, The Road Home, and The Salvation Army staff. YWCA Madison coordinates the program.

  • Eligible families for the Rapid Rehousing program must be currently residing in Dane County, have at least one minor child in the household, and meet specific income requirements.

  • Rapid Rehousing accepts referrals directly from program partners only. If you are experiencing homelessness, you can add your name to the community-wide priority list by visiting the Homeless Services Consortium for more information.

Family Housing Stability (FHS)

Family Housing Stability (FHS) is a shelter-diversion program for families who are doubled up, self-paying in a motel, and/or at imminent risk of homelessness. The program can help families find housing or maintain the housing they are currently in, depending on their needs. In order to be eligible, families must have income and minor children in the home. When there are openings, referrals are accepted from families and/or community providers. There are funds for financial support, such as rent, moving costs, and transportation assistance. Families have the opportunity to work with a case manager for three months after housing is secured.

  • Families in Dane County who are “doubled-up” (staying with friends or family), on the shelter waiting list, or in other ways on the verge of entering shelter.

    Family Housing Stability eligibility requires families to have at least one minor child in the household as well as income.

  • Contact Family Housing Stability Coordinator Tamaha Shepard Jones at 608-257-1436, option 2.

Steps to Stability (S2S)

Steps to Stability (S2S) is a tenant-education program for families experiencing housing instability. The program serves families identified through diversion services as being at imminent risk of entering shelter. Participants in the program experience a six-week class that covers various topics related to renting: finding and maintaining housing, learning landlord/tenant and fair housing laws, financial planning, communicating with landlords, and understanding notices and contracts associated with renting. The program aims to build relationships with landlords in the community and support participants in obtaining/maintaining housing through short-term supportive case management services and a small amount of rental assistance. At the end of the series, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

  • Dane County families eligible for the program must meet two requirements: (1) have at least one minor in the household and (2) be staying in an emergency shelter or be at imminent risk of entering shelter after recently securing housing.

  • If you are seeking to join Steps to Stability, getting started is simple:

    Call YWCA Madison at (608) 257-1436 at any time to begin the process. A receptionist will help you complete a Housing Referral Screening Form, which allows our staff to learn more about your needs and determine eligibility for available programs.

    Once your form has been reviewed, program staff will contact you by phone or email when an opening becomes available. They will discuss the program with you to ensure it’s a good fit and schedule a phone intake appointment, which typically lasts about 30 minutes.

    After your intake, you will be officially enrolled in the program and will receive further communication from staff about your move-in or program start date.

HIRE Housing

HIRE Housing is part of the HIRE Initiative which supports adults to find jobs, and help businesses find talent. HIRE also helps people get their GED and learn new skills. The initiative is composed of several local non-profit agencies which include: Centro Hispano, Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Literacy Network, JustDane (formerly known as Madison Urban Ministry/MUM), Urban League of Greater Madison, and YWCA Madison.

YWCA Madison provides support to HIRE participants who are in need of housing or assistance to maintain and/or stabilize their housing.

Our HIRE Case Manager works with individuals referred for housing assistance. Assistance can include money to move into housing and/or avoid eviction and utilities disconnection, housing search assistance, and advocacy.

Referrals are only accepted from HIRE partner agencies (listed above).