Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) works to coordinate fair housing and community development projects funded through various local, state and federal programs. These programs include the federal Community Development Block Grant Program, the federal Home Investment Partnership Act Program, and other state and County bond funds.

PATHWAYS TO REMOVING OBSTACLES TO HOUSING APPLICATION

Baltimore County submitted an application for the federal Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued this competitive grant for the identification and removal of barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. The County applied for a $10 million grant to assist with the removal of these barriers. The public can send written comments to dhcd@baltimorecountymd.gov or by U.S. Mail to Terry Hickey, Director, Baltimore County Housing and Community Development, 105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 201, Towson, Maryland 21204.

Article 29-2-101 of the Baltimore County Code prohibits discrimination in the transfer or rental of a dwelling because of the person's race, creed, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status, or physical or mental disability.

The Urban County of Baltimore County Maryland, a HUD entitlement, encompasses all communities within the County’s boundaries. The entirety of the County consists of unincorporated territory that falls under the jurisdiction of County government. This includes 29 Census-designated places in addition to less formally recognized settlements. As a condition of receiving CDBG, HOME, and ESG funds from HUD, the Urban County is charged with the responsibility of conducting its programs in compliance with the federal Fair Housing Act. The responsibility of compliance with the federal Fair Housing Act extends to nonprofit organizations and other entities, including units of local government, which receive federal funds through the Urban County. As a condition of federal funding, all such HUD entitlements certify to HUD each year that they will conduct their entitlement programs in a non-discriminatory manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the federal Fair Housing Act.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

Each year the County is the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As part of the required planning process for CDBG recipients, the County must identify the steps it is taking to address fair housing and housing discrimination in its Annual Action Plan and certify that it is affirmatively furthering fair housing. This means it will conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction, take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and maintain records reflecting that analysis and actions.

Baltimore County continues its collaboration with a group of six local governments, five public housing authorities (PHAs), and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) to support BMC’s Housing Policy Coordinator position. Building on more than 18 months of work with a consultant team led by Root Policy Research, including 11 meetings of a Regional Analysis of Impediments Stakeholder Work Group, the County finalized its 2020 Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice where it exists as part of what this Baltimore Regional Fair Housing Group has finalized in its 2020 regional fair housing analysis, which will shape the programs of the County, the other participating jurisdictions and agencies for the next five years.

In 2020, BMC published the final AI to Fair Housing Choice (PDF). The AI’s Executive Summary (PDF) contains an overview of the County’s action steps on page 38.

This analysis uses data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other sources to identify impediments to housing choice for populations protected under the Fair Housing Act and proposed action steps to be incorporated into jurisdictional Consolidated Plans and PHA plans that are scheduled to begin July 1.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Baltimore Regional Fair Housing Group, contact Dan Pontious, Housing Policy Coordinator at Baltimore Metropolitan Council by emailing dpontious@baltimetro.org or by calling 410-732-0500, extension 1055.

In accordance with the regulations of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and in furtherance of the County’s commitment to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in housing, DHCD has developed a standard for the development of affordable housing in its Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan.

Additional functions include:

Periodic revision and update of the Development Guide as regulations and guidelines change
Coordination of fair housing outreach and education activities
Performance monitoring for fair housing service providers
Fair Housing technical assistance to sub-recipient housing counseling agencies
Development and implementation of the Language Access Plan

FAIR HOUSING SERVICES SUB-RECIPIENTS

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council-Opportunity Collaborative works with the County to help Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. Educational booklets are available for both renters and homebuyers that describe your rights as a County resident and other jurisdictions in the Baltimore area. The booklets are also available in Spanish and Korean, and describe where you can go to have your questions answered or file a complaint. Rental property owners and managers and real estate agents will likely also find them useful resources. Printed booklets can be requested by contacting Dan Pontious at dpontious@baltometro.org or 410-732-0500.

Greater Baltimore Community Housing Resource Board provides Fair Housing education, training and advocacy as well as brochures, self-help guides, reports, newsletters and research. For more information, call 410-929-7640.

VOLUNTARY CONCILIATION AGREEMENT

In 2011, complaints were filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against the County and two named appointed administration officials, alleging that the policies and practices of the Housing Office and County housing policies in general violated provisions of federal law. After negotiations, an agreement was reached and executed in 2016. Learn more about the Voluntary HUD Conciliation Agreement.

REPORT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

Report housing discrimination to the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission.