Under the guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), notice is hereby given that the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (the Department) will hold a series of public hearings to develop its Fiscal Year 2024 (Federal Fiscal Year 2023) Annual Plan in conformity with the State’s Consolidated Plan (ConPlan).
The ConPlan is a 5-Year planning document required by HUD that sets statewide goals and priorities for housing, community development, and economic development activities. Special emphasis is given under the Plan to provide assistance for extremely low, low, and moderate-income persons. In addition to being a planning document, the Consolidated Plan also serves as the State’s application to HUD for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunity With AIDS (HOPWA) and the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). These funds are used primarily in the State’s rural areas, as many communities, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties, as well as the Cities of Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, Cumberland, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown and Salisbury receive funding directly from HUD.
The ConPlan also makes it possible for the Department, public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, community action agencies and others to apply for funding under HUD’s competitive grant programs. Local public housing authority Plans must be consistent with the State’s ConPlan, the USDA’s Rural Development housing programs and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits are also coordinated with the Plan. Lastly, while not directly covered by the Consolidated Plan, HUD funding allocations for the Section 8 Certificate and Voucher programs may be made in a way that enables jurisdictions to carry out their Consolidated Plan.
In developing its five-year Plan, the State determined it would focus its resources on four main priorities: Revitalizing Communities, Expanding the Supply of Decent Affordable Housing, Providing Homeownership Opportunities, Reducing Homelessness and supporting services for the disabled and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS. The FY2023 Annual Plan update (which will be for the third year of the current 5-Year Plan) will establish one-year goals for these priorities.
DRAFT Hearing – FY 2023 Annual Action Plan Comment Period
The Department has written a draft Annual Plan and has opened a 30-day public comment period beginning Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Written comments (by email) will also be accepted at the hearings or may be submitted in writing through COB Monday, April 24, 2023 (at the address listed below). The final version of the Annual Plan will be submitted to HUD on or before May 17, 2023.
Please use the link below to access the copy of the plan on DHCDs website.
https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Pages/ConsolidatedPlan.aspx
Hard copies of the current ConPlan is available at the following libraries: the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, the Blackwell Library in Salisbury, the Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown, the Lewis J. Ort Library in Frostburg, the Frederick Douglas Library in Princess Anne, and the Southern Maryland Regional Library in Charlotte Hall. A large print version is available at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Baltimore. Copies of the Consolidated Plan are also available by calling, writing, or e-mailing the address and phone numbers listed below.
Hearings
The State will hold six hearings on the draft Annual Plan as scheduled below. All hearings are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons requiring a translator should request one at least three days prior to the hearing they plan to attend.
First Hearing: Public Hearings for Annual Action Plan
Monday, March 27 · 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Towson – Baltimore County Public Library
320 York Road
Towson, MD 21204
Second Hearing: Public Hearings for Annual Action Plan
Tuesday, March 28 · 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cumberland – Allegany County Department of Economic and Community Development
701 Kelly Road
Cumberland, MD 21502
Third Hearing: Public Hearings for Annual Action Plan
Wednesday, March 29 · 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Owings – Calvert Library Fairview Branch
8120 Southern Maryland Blvd.
Owings, MD 20736
Fourth Hearing: Public Hearings for Annual Action Plan
Thursday, March 30 · 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Easton – Easton Town Office
14 South Harrison Street
Easton, MD 21601
Fifth Hearing: Public Hearings for Annual Action Plan
Friday, March 31 · 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lanham – DHCD headquarters
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, MD 20706
Sixth Hearing: Public Hearings for Annual Action Plan
Monday, April 3 · 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Virtual – Google Meet joining info: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hry-jghb-chx
Or dial: (US) +1 980-277-4190 PIN: 536 329 279#
Any questions or comments should be directed to Bernice Mensah, Director of the Office of Housing and Economic Research, at the address, phone numbers, or e-mail listed below:
Bernice Mensah, Director, Bernice.Mensah@maryland.gov
James Parker, Senior Housing Policy Analyst, James.Parker1@maryland.gov
Housing Economic Research Office
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, Maryland 20706
(301) 429-7446 or Maryland Relay for the Deaf at 1 (800) 735-2258.
