Our Sycamore Community Vision is to develop housing that supports a diversity of age, income, and ability integrated with a hub of services, programs, and enterprises that attracts a broad range of individuals and families.
The Need
As people journey through and want to leave poverty behind, they often experience roadblocks. Some of the barriers are similar for a lot of people and we call these systemic barriers.
Over the past few years, we’ve noticed transportation is a regular struggle. Childcare is a challenge for many. Also, sometimes the benefits that businesses offer don’t match the needs of those who are experiencing poverty.
Another barrier we continue to run up against is housing. We get a front row seat to this challenge. 4 specific families in our Circles Program (working their way out of poverty) are increasing their income, paying down debt, and adjusting their budget and goals/career path. They reached a point where their income increased enough that they no longer qualified for the housing they were in [subsidized housing where they pay 1/3 of their income up to a cap amount]. These 4 families got kicked out of their housing program [because they were now making too much money] and then couldn’t find affordable housing in Sauk Prairie. They moved to a neighboring community and a new school district which disrupted their family’s connections, community, routines, and more.
If we’re desiring financial stability in our community, then our community must support HOUSING STABILITY across the entire continuum of housing. If we don’t have safe, accessible, available, affordable housing at every level, we won’t have a stable housing pathway in our community.
The Sycamore Community Concept
Reimagining how we live, work, and play together.
6:8 has held dozens of listening sessions attended by hundreds of community members. Based on what we learned and the resources currently available, we believe we can best serve our community’s needs if we deliver the following on one campus:
Affordable housing and support resources – our top priorities.
Healthcare support including public health services, health literacy classes, and wellness education.
Cooperative childcare program and a public interactive play experience.
Short-term shelter for families experiencing homelessness through a partnership with Pathway Home of South-Central Wisconsin.
A workshop and makerspace with shared tools and resources.
Community Cafe that promotes employment and job training.
Support resources to help ensure the long-term success of families in need, including youth and senior programming, mental health services, job training, education, spiritual support, laundry services, and social networks.
Spaces for community and agency partners.
Location is critical to the success of this facility, especially given the lack of public transportation in our area. Our neighbors need ready access to jobs and everyday necessities, especially food.
Sycamore Community Intro
The vision is still strong! We are no longer pursuing the specific property mentioned in this video, however the need and our response are still applicable.
Sycamore Community FAQs
1. Where does the name 6:8 come from?
The name “6:8” was inspired by four verses in the Bible that guide our mission:
Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
Here I am, Lord. Send me. (Isaiah 6:8)
Take nothing extra for the journey. (Mark 6:8)
With food and clothing, we are content. (1 Timothy 6:8)
2. Do you welcome and serve all people regardless of their religious beliefs?
Yes! Serving and involving all people is a core tenet of ours. Our full Faith Statement is as follows: 6:8 is a Christian organization, inspired by the Life and Love of Jesus Christ. 6:8 believes it is most important to invest in people. We prioritize relationships and believe this is the starting point for service, for charity, for transformation. 6:8 seeks to transform communities with Jesus Christ by Making Service Personal and helping individuals discover and share their gifts with our community. We welcome and serve all people regardless of their religious beliefs.
3. This feels like a big goal. Are you concerned about 6:8 growing too big, too fast? How is this going to be sustainable?
As an extension of our existing programming, 6:8 will expand or add new programs as staff, volunteers, funding, and space allow.
6:8 is already expanding staff and volunteer capacity. We currently have eight staff and are planning for additional staff. We have formalized a succession plan to ensure continuity should there be an unexpected transition of staff or leadership.
We have created a business plan to demonstrate the economic sustainability of our future activities. Once the initial capital has been raised, the housing component of the Sycamore Community will be financially self-sustaining.
The vision of the Sycamore Community is larger than 6:8. It will be accomplished through partnerships and collaboration with other businesses and organizations.
4. What will draw people who can afford market rate to live at the Sycamore Community?
As we reimagine the way we live together, we are creating a space that welcomes a diversity of income, age, and ability. The design and layout of the apartments encourages connections with neighbors through indoor and outdoor gathering spaces to build desired community.
Proximity to community resources is a priority and the Sycamore Center will offer a variety of amenities such as a café, community spaces, and more.
5. Will this type of low-income housing increase crime in the area?
Positive community identity and proximity of neighbors will provide accountability naturally based on the community-centric design of the housing units. Onsite management will rapidly respond to challenges as neighbors hold each other to a higher standard.
In addition, residents of the subsidized housing will participate in our Circles Program, offering additional layers of accountability and support.
The co-mingling of diverse income, age, and ability will decrease the concentration of any one demographic living in these units. We are intentionally fostering positive relationships with the police and community, and they are encouraged that this will raise the bar for all living in the greater Sauk Prairie area.
6. Tell me more about the homeless shelter. Will it draw people from all over?
The proposed shelter for families will prioritize helping people in our area. We are partnering with Pathway Home of South-Central WI, which operates a shelter in Baraboo.
We have around 40 families who are experiencing homelessness in the Sauk Prairie School District. In addition, Pathway Home has a waiting list of people in Sauk County.
Pathway Home is not a drop-in shelter. While the shelter is an emergency shelter, it requires an application and pre-screening before people are housed. The shelter will not accept violent criminals or sex offenders.
The shelter model allows for up to 89 days of shelter with a case manager to support a individual/family’s work toward rehousing. Pathway Home is very much in line with 6:8’s mission to help families grow toward stability.
7. How will this project impact property taxes for our schools and community?
From what we have learned from our local tax consultant the Sycamore Community will add to tax revenue in the area and not deduct from property or sales taxes collected.
Many of the planned programs with the Sycamore Community will be subject to property and sales tax.
In addition, as everyone in our community participates more fully in the workforce and overall economy, property values and tax revenue in a general sense will increase, not decrease, over time.
8. Will this compete with other housing projects?
As we desire financial stability in our community, our community must support housing stability across the entire continuum of housing, including shelter, subsidized, low-income, workforce/affordable, market rate and luxury. If we have safe, accessible, available housing at every level, we have a stable housing pathway in our community.
6:8’s housing plan complements other existing and proposed housing. It offers a unique opportunity for subsidized housing on a sliding scale.
Unlike other projects, this plan also offers wrap-around programmatic support to help increase financial stability of subsidized tenants and decrease loneliness and isolation for all residents.
9. How will Sycamore Community housing be managed?
The Sycamore Community plans to manage the housing with paid staff who are employed by 6:8. Newly hired staff will be experienced in the field of housing management and will embrace 6:8 culture.
Though all the single and multi-family units will be built the same, half will be available to those at or below 80% of the median income for Sauk County (those living in poverty), subsidized on a sliding scale where residents pay 30% of their income towards housing. As a resident’s income increases, their rent will rise proportionally until they are at market rate at which time they can stay in their housing if they choose – creating housing stability as they reach financial stability.
The second half of the units will be market rate, allowing the housing component of the Sycamore Community to be financially self-sustaining once it is built. As units become available, we will maintain a ratio of market rate versus subsidized at 50% each.
10. Are you pursuing federal or state grants for this project?
Yes, and in that process, we are being selective to apply for grants that do not restrict our programming strategy or Christian values. Our poverty alleviation philosophy honors the inherent dignity, and encourages increased capacity, of each person. Therefore, our plan requires participation in our poverty reduction programming for those who participate in our subsidized housing program, which disqualifies us from receiving many federal or state grants.
11. Where are you getting the data and information about changes in our economy and effects of isolation?
Data and information related to poverty, housing, childcare and economic factors that we rely on comes from reputable sources listed below:
The 2024 Rezoning Presentation for Quartz Property
View the entire presentation that 6:8 shared with the Village of Sauk City's Plan Commission and Village Board seeking approval for rezoning to allow for the mixed use of housing, and hub of Community Center, retail and other services.
If you were not able to attend one of our previous Listening Sessions and would like to watch a recording or one our past Sessions Click this link -->
Our plans continue to develop. We will be hosting more Listening Sessions in the future.
After Watching the Listening Session we would love to hear your Feedback. Please consider sharing your thoughts on this project by filing out this online form Click this link -->