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City of Madison

Construction partner awarded bid for Madison's first purpose-built men’s shelter

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Rendering of the proposed exterior of the men's shelter viewed from Bartillon Drive.

The City of Madison has awarded Miron Construction the bid to build what will become the first-ever purpose-built men’s shelter in Madison.  

Miron submitted the low bid of $21,463,884 plus an 8% maximum construction contingency of $1,717,111, for a total of $23,180,995.

The shelter, which will be located on Bartillon Dr., is a collaboration between the City of Madison, Dane County, and Porchlight, Inc., the local non-profit chosen to be its operator. Funding for the project includes $13.5 million from City sources, including $8 million of borrowing, $10.5 million from Dane County, and $3 million of federal funds, including $2 million from a Congressional earmark secured by Congressman Mark Pocan.  

The 40,000-square-foot facility will have the capacity to house 250 men experiencing homelessness in a space specifically designed to meet their needs.

This is the culmination of much hard work and collaboration between the City and County, with valuable input from local stakeholders and people with lived experience. The new shelter will become a long overdue community asset and we now look to the larger community to play an active role in ensuring its long-term success.

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City of Madison Community Development Director Jim O'Keefe
Rendering of proposed exterior of the men's shelter as viewed from Stoughton Road with privacy fences and a bike path

Rendering showing the proposed exterior of the men's shelter as viewed from Stoughton Road

Rendering showing the proposed entryway to the men's shelter

Rendering showing the proposed design of the entrance foyer for the men's shelter

Rendering of proposed dining hall of the men's shelter

Rendering showing the proposed dining hall design for the men's shelter

Rendering showing proposed design of the dorms at the men's shelter with a mix of bunk and single beds

Rendering showing the proposed dorm design for the men's shelter, with privacy walls between each set of beds

Miron's bid was about $2 million over budget, but City officials concluded that rebidding the project would only have delayed its progress and increased the eventual cost of construction.

Instead, the Common Council approved a plan at its most recent meeting on July 2, 2024 to utilize $2,000,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding still available to the City. That required moving those funds, which had previously been allocated to a youth-focused affordable housing development at 1202 S. Park Street, to the Bartillon Shelter project.

The Park Street project will instead be supported with $2 million of unused and uncommitted federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds. Both projects will be fully funded with no net impact on the City’s budget. 

Construction on the purpose-built men’s shelter is expected to begin later this summer with completion anticipated by the fourth quarter of 2025.

You can find more information about the men’s shelter and get the latest updates on the City of Madison’s website for the project.

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