The Coalition's goal is to achieve community understanding, policy making and regulatory decisions that will lead to an increase in and equitable access to Howard County affordable housing. We seek to contribute to a community-wide recognition that Howard County's economic vitality is dependent upon access to jobs, housing that individuals and families can afford, a quality educational system, and resident mobility.
Embedded Files
IT'S A FACT!
Maryland is losing residents to lower-cost states, especially states where housing is cheaper. Before the pandemic, the losses were primarily due to the movement of older residents. Since the pandemic, the share of younger residents leaving the state has increased.
Maryland Comptroller's Housing Report, October 2025
Calendar:
March
March
NEW DATE! March 17 - County Council Legislative Hearing, including CR40-2026 (Charter Amendment) and CB21-2026 (ADU Ownership Requirements)
April
April
5 - Last day to email testimony on CR40-2026 to the County Council at councilmail@howardcountymd.org. Please copy the Coalition steering committee: admin@hocohac.org.
6 - County Council votes on CR40-2026
Learn More About CR40-2026 from The Merriweather Post
The March 15, 2026 installment of The Merriweather Post blog provides a detailed and well-rounded overview of CR40-2026, the Howard County resolution that would allow voters to consider a charter amendment enabling the County to use bond financing to support affordable housing through the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund. The piece explains how the proposal works, why it is being considered now, and what it could mean for the future of affordable housing development in Howard County. It’s a helpful resource for coalition members and community stakeholders who want a clearer understanding of the legislation and the potential impact of this important policy discussion.
County Council to Consider HOTF Charter Amendment
At their March 17, 2026 public hearing, the Howard County Council heard testimony from many individuals and organizations, including the Coalition, requesting that the County Council authorize a ballot referendum that would allow the County to fund Housing Opportunities Trust Fund (HOTF) capital projects through bonds. If approved by voters, the HOTF could be backed by a dedicated, long-term funding stream to expand and preserve affordable housing in our community.
The Coalition strongly supports CR40-2026 because a Housing Trust Fund backed by bonds would give our community a steady, long-term way to invest in more housing development, just like we do for schools and roads. Instead of scrambling each year to find budget room, the county would have dedicated dollars to build more affordable homes, which would:
Help families stay in their neighborhoods and kids stay in the same schools
Help older adults remain in their communities without being priced out
Keep essential workers (who keep our county running) housed close to their jobs
Speak Up!
Email your testimony to the County Council by April 5, 2026. Include CR40-2026 in the subject line and please copy us at admin@hocohac.org
Joint Statement on CR40-2026
The Horizon Foundation joined the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County, the Autism Society of Maryland, Bridges to Housing Stability, Building Families for Children, Columbia Housing Center, Community Development Network of Maryland, the Howard County Housing Affordability Coalition, MakingChange and Maryland Inclusive Housing in releasing the following statement:
“Where we live impacts our quality of life and how healthy we are – and we all want to live in vibrant neighborhoods full of opportunity. But for many Howard County residents, our community is becoming an increasingly unaffordable place to live – and our housing system is a major reason why. Housing inventory has dropped while home prices and rents have skyrocketed. One solution is not the magic bullet, but ensuring our Housing Opportunities Trust Fund has a sustainable and robust source of funding is an important part of addressing this problem. The Trust Fund supports affordable housing creation, unit preservation, rental assistance and homeownership. We support the proposed charter amendment to allow Howard County to pursue bond funding, a more sustainable and longer-term source of financing, to support the Trust Fund and to address the housing shortage that is currently driving up costs for everyone and making it difficult for working people and their families to be able to afford to live here. Investing in a housing system that works for everyone will improve Howard County’s wellbeing and prosperity.”
Help shape the present and future of housing in Howard County.
We welcome organizations and individuals to join the Coalition. Members receive regular policy and legislative updates on matters that impact affordable housing, and are encouraged to attend Coalition meetings. Members also receive calls to action that can include writing letters, testifying at meetings, supporting in-person events, or providing education to the public.
Membership is free. Coalition members are published on this website and made available in conjunction with public Coalition statements as appropriate.
To join the Howard County Housing Affordability Coalition, please complete the membership sign-up form.
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