Mauston Housing Authority

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For more than 40 years, the City of Mauston Housing Authority (MHA) has played a key role in providing housing options to low-and-moderate income households. The authority was organized in the early 70’s to address affordable housing needs in the Juneau County area.  

Today, the housing authority operates two programs. The first is called Public Housing, which is all located in the city of Mauston. It consists of a 45-unit apartment complex for the elderly and disabled known as, “Colonial Manor” and five single family homes, known as “Scattered Sites.” The Scattered Sites are located throughout the city. Colonial Manor is located in the city along Lemonweir River in a residential area, known as “Harmon Isle.”  The MHA office operates out of this building, as well as the MHA maintenance staff. The Housing Authority is the owner and manager of these properties and acts as the landlord to the tenants in these units. All of these properties are income- based properties and go by 30% of the tenant’s adjusted income that is paid directly to the MHA.  

The second program is called Section 8 Rental Assistance (Voucher Program). This program came into effect with the passage of the Housing and Community Development Act in 1974. This program covers all of Juneau County and allows participants the ability to find housing throughout the Juneau County area, with private landlords. The Housing Authority then offers rental assistance that is paid directly to the owners and/or property managers, on behalf of a qualified low-income participant.  

The Housing Authority is an independent governmental agency and requires no municipal tax dollars to operate. The Housing Authority receives it’s funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and from the rents; it collects each month from the Public Housing it owns.      

Since the Authority’s primary source of funding is government revenue, HUD is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of the operations of the agency. Management and financial reporting and reviews are conducted periodically by HUD, as well as an Independent Audit each year in accordance with the Federal Single Audit Act.

The oversight of the MHA is the responsibility of a five-member citizen commission appointed by the City of Mauston Mayor and confirmed by the Mauston Common Council. The board meets bi-monthly and is responsible for formulating MHA policy and acting as a secondary monitor of the housing authority finances. They are dedicated and committed volunteers that bring an array of knowledge and abilities to MHA.