Urgent: Affordable Housing Funding in Jeopardy!
Background:
The affordable housing crisis in Howard County continues to push out community members. We need more affordable housing and yet, last week, Councilmembers put forth several amendments that create obstacles to funding for affordable housing and community development projects:
- Am. 3 to CB34-2022 has been filed to move the $5 million proposed for the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund into contingency. If this passes, the Administration will need to file a bill that the Council approves to be able to move the funds out of contingency in the future.
- Am. 20 to CB34-2022 (and Am. 2 to CR57-2022 and Am. 1 to CB35-2022) will move the $1.666 mill in funding for the new Downtown Columbia Library into contingency as well.
- Am 23 to CB34 will move $6 million for the New Cultural Center into contingency.
Contingency adds barriers to an already complicated, bureaucratic process of approval which would impede these essential projects. Our communities need affordable housing solutions and support, not additional bureaucratic hoops to jump through!
Why it's urgent:
The Council is in the final week before the budget is voted on and will take these issues to a vote this coming Wednesday, May 25th at noon. The passing of these amendments make funding for affordable housing, the new downtown library and the New Cultural Center more inaccessible, and leave 58 families living in unsuitable conditions after most have already been temporarily relocated.
What you can do now:
Send a letter to your County Councilmember urging them to vote against Amendment 23 to Council Bill No. 34-2022, Amendment 20 to Council Bill No. 34-2022, and Amendment 3 to Council Bill No. 34-2022. Please add your own personal language about why affordable, accessible housing is an urgent need for you and your neighbors.
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