HOME Package Aims To Address Housing Affordability In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Officials unveiled the county's new comprehensive Housing Opportunities Meant for Everyone, or HOME, package.

Comprised of a suite of policy and programmatic initiatives, HOME is aimed at tackling housing affordability in Howard County, leaders said.

"Like many counties and regions across the nation, Howard County is faced with an ongoing housing crisis. The rising cost of housing impedes many of our residents from realizing and continuing their dream of calling Howard County home. Our comprehensive HOME package aims to address our housing challenges head-on through policy changes and programmatic initiatives targeted at improving housing affordability and stability within our community, as well as protecting tenant rights," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a news conference.

The HOME package includes:

• Local legislation to prohibit rent gouging and bringing stability and predictability to the rental housing market. By setting annual rent increases to the lesser of inflation plus five percent or 10 percent, tenants will be protected from excessive and extreme rent increases. This legislation will be filed with the County Council for consideration in November.
• An expansion of Howard County’s Right to Purchase law, allowing the county and the Howard County Housing Commission to partner with nonprofit and private organizations to purchase existing rental properties and convert market rate units to affordable. This legislation will be filed with the County Council for consideration in November.
• State legislation to expand the Maryland payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) law to enable Howard County to offer tax credits to property owners for the creation of new affordable housing units. This legislation will be considered by the Howard County Delegation during the 2024 General Assembly Session.
• Security deposit and rental assistance programs for students and families experiencing homelessness. An investment of $2 million will be used to provide rental subsidies and security deposit guarantee to Howard County Public School System families experiencing homelessness, as well as Howard Community College students of eligible income who are seeking housing assistance.
• Home accessibility modifications for seniors and people with disabilities through a $100,000 investment. The Accessibility Modifications Program will provide $100,000 to Accessible Resources for Independence to assist landlords with making modifications to rental units at no cost to the prospective tenants.
• An award of $3 million from the county’s Housing Opportunities Trust Fund to direct new investments in homeownership, rehabilitation, rental subsidies and affordable unit creation. This includes $1.6 million for the transformational Patuxent Commons affordable housing project, which will include 25 percent of units available for people with disabilities.

In addition to proposed legislation and new programs, Ball announced that the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development will open an application to award an additional $10 million from the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund this fall. This funding will be used to further advance rental assistance, homeownership initiatives and the creation of new affordable housing opportunities. Once potential awardees are selected, funding approval will be presented to the County Council in 2024.

"Stable housing is not a luxury; it's fundamental. When kids have a safe, secure place to call home, they can thrive academically, emotionally and socially,” said County Council Chair Christiana Rigby. “Investing in housing stability for children and their families is an investment in our collective future.”

“Understanding that in order for a child to be able to fully learn, their most basic needs must first be met, homelessness in Howard County is an extraordinary challenge and one we must collaboratively confront,” added Michael J. Martirano Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools.