AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

On June 9, AAWGT presented an engrossing panel discussion moderated by member Ardath Cade, a long-time affordable housing champion. Speakers included executives of three key agencies that work together to improve affordable housing in Annapolis and the County. Each shared detailed information about their programs and the strategies their organizations are pursuing to address housing needs. Selected highlights follow. The full event recording is available here and additional resources can be found here.

Affordable Housing = Public Housing?

In her introduction, Cade made clear that public housing is only one piece of affordable housing. The latter is defined as housing that serves persons whose income is 60% or less of the median income in the region. This means that a person with a median income under $44,000, including the fully or partially employed, elderly, and disabled, may be eligible for affordable housing in the County.

Theresa Wellman, Chief of the Community Development Division for the City of Annapolis, underscored the fact that many people don’t understand the breadth of individuals who need affordable housing which often includes your children, your parents, and a large percentage of the nation’s workforce. A common misconception, she said, is that affordable housing doesn’t look like market-rate housing. In fact, she noted that the 25 affordable housing sites in the County (13 of which are in Annapolis), blend into their communities and come in many forms, including rehabbed homes and apartment complexes.

To ensure affordable rentals and ownership, the Community Development Division’s practices include rehabilitation of existing units, acquisition, new construction, lease/purchase arrangements, and payment in lieu of taxes. The Division also administers the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Annapolis that provides help to low-income homeowners to make repairs to their homes.

Do Financial Incentives Work?

Kathy Koch, Executive Director of Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS) described how funding for affordable housing typically is made available through financing mechanisms such as tax credits or reduced debt costs for private and non-profit developers ,which enable lower-than-market-rate rents to persons with limited incomes.

ACDS runs programs focused on increasing/maintaining homeownership and rental housing, providing housing to individuals with special needs, fair housing, eviction protection, and ending homelessness. Additionally, ACDS, alongside its many partners, acts as a developer, funding administrator, and project manager for a variety of affordable housing and community development initiatives.

What about Attainable/Sustainable Housing?

Melissa Maddox-Evans, Executive Director/CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) noted that HACA serves approximately 1,100 families, with 700 receiving public housing in sites around the City and 400 receiving housing choice vouchers and tax credits. Rent increases or decreases depend on household income and the wait for housing is 1-3 years.

With a FY 2021 budget of $13.5 million, HACA is not able to meet 100% of need. Because housing authorities are not allowed to leverage their owned properties—only to manage them - there is now a $70 billion backlog in capital improvement needs for housing authority properties in the U.S. But, through the Rental Assistance Demonstration Project, HUD now allows authorities to partner with private investors that are dedicated to affordable housing.

Attendees were encouraged to learn more and get involved in efforts to expand affordable housing in Anne Arundel County.