LEGAL NOTICE: Updating Maryland’s Annual Plan
LEGAL NOTICE
UPDATING MARYLAND’S ANNUAL PLAN
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 new draft Annual Plan update of the State’s Consolidated Plan.
The Consolidated Plan is a five-year planning document required by HUD that sets out overall 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). For the 2021 Annual Action Plan, the State will receive $7.9 million in CDBG funds, $6.4 million in HOME funds, $1.1 million in ESG funds, $9.9 million in HTF funds, and a total of $2.2 million in HOPWA funds for the State’s Rural Program and HOPWA funds on behalf of Montgomery and Frederick Counties. 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 their own funding directly from HUD.
In addition to the above, it should also be noted that the Consolidated Plan 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 Consolidated Plan. USDA Farmer’s Home 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 and Reducing Homelessness. The Annual Plan update (which will be for the fifth year of the current Five Year Plan) will establish one-year goals for these priorities.
The Department has written a draft Annual Plan and has opened a 30 day public comment period beginning Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Written comments (by email) will also be accepted at the hearings or may be submitted in writing through COB Saturday, August 14, 2021 (at the address listed below). The final version of the Annual Plan will be submitted to HUD on or around August 15, 2021.
The draft Annual Plan is available online on DHCD’s website at: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/. It can be found under the “Publications” heading at the bottom of the website or here at: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/Pages/ConsolidatedPlan.aspx.
Free copies of the draft Annual Plan are also available by calling, writing, or emailing the address and phone numbers below.
The State will participate in the hearings by video and telephone conference, with no physical meeting location. If you wish to participate in the public hearing via video, please email janai.streat@maryland.gov to receive a link. These real-time virtual public hearings will take place on:
Monday, July 26, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Join by phone: 617-675-4444 – PIN: 314 804 518 2092#
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 2:00 PM
Join by phone: 617-675-4444 – PIN: 545 061 479 2166#
The State will make every effort to accommodate those with disabilities by providing the meetings in both audio and visual format. Persons requiring a translator should request one at least three days prior to the virtual hearing they plan to attend. Any questions or comments should be directed to the address or email listed below:
Mrs. Ja’Nai Streat
Senior Housing Policy Analyst
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, MD 20706
janai.streat@maryland.gov
Phone: (301) 429-7445 or Maryland Relay for the Deaf at (800) 735-2258