Resources and Tools

by Sarah Lipkin Sularz, Regional Planner and Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner

On June 16, 2020, the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) published a webpage for our new Housing Element Models and Guidelines (M&G), developed in response to House Bill 1045 (HB 1045 [2019]) to support local governments in planning affordable housing with their jurisdictions. 

In every region of Maryland there is a great need for additional affordable housing and communities from across the state have sought out funding sources and assistance for new and proposed housing of all kinds and for every type of household.

At Planning, we know that a mixture of housing densities, forms, and costs are what help keep a community vital, and allow it grow and succeed. We further understand that with more efficient tools, and easily accessible information, we can help communities make better use of time, energy, and resources to fulfill all levels of housing needs.

The Housing M&G is organized into five sections: Housing Planning; Self-Assessments; Housing Data; Housing Practices; and Affordable Housing Resources. In this article, Planning will walk through the Affordable Housing Resources section.

When you click on the Affordable Housing Resources link (Figure 1, at right), you will be directed to a Resource Table and Database containing a wide variety of resources, which can be filtered by selecting from the Resource Type drop down menu (Figure 2, below):

• Financing Assistance
• Grants
• Loans
• Tax Credits and Incentives
• Technical Assistance
• Other

For example, we have selected “Loans” to see all the various types of loans that are available in support of affordable housing. The name of each loan is a hyperlink that will take you to the relevant program’s website.

Results can further be refined by selecting one of the following from the Category drop down menu (to the right of the resource type drop down menu).

• County
• Federal
• Foundation
• State
• Technical

The resource list not only demonstrates how funds can be utilized in the implementation phase but how they can also aid jurisdictions as planning strategies are being developed. If so desired, goals, objectives, policies, and strategies can be pulled directly from the resources.

Many grant funders look for specific references to other sources of funding a jurisdiction will leverage while considering the grant being pursued. Additionally, as local governments develop their own ideas and strategies for improving the availability affordable housing in their communities, their comprehensive plans will align with more grant opportunities.

For more information about the Housing Element Models and Guidelines webpage including the Affordable Housing Resources database, contact Sarah Lipkin Sularz, Regional Planner at sarah.lipkinsularz@maryland.gov, or Joe Griffiths, Local Assistance and Training Manager at joseph.griffiths@maryland.gov.