Community Planning & Grants

Public Notice of Community Input Sessions

May 22, 2025

The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will host two community input sessions to invite public comment on the development of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2025-2029) and the 2025 Annual Action Plan. All are welcome.

Howard County submits these plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. The County also submits the first of five Annual Action Plans (AAP) as part of the yearly application for HUD funding. These valuable federal investments increase housing stability through a mix of essential housing and community development programs and projects, primarily benefiting low- to moderate-income residents.

Dates and Locations

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Chesapeake Room, North Laurel Community Center
9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd., Laurel, MD 20723

Thursday, June 12, 2025 2:00pm – 5:00pm DHCD Offices, Training Room 211
9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

Following the Community Input Sessions, the draft Consolidated Plan and draft 2025 Annual Action Plan with proposed budget will be available for review from July 1 – July 31, 2025 at DHCD offices, 9820 Patuxent Woods Dr., Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046 and on this webpage.

If you cannot attend a Community Input session, you can direct your written comments to Kim Zanti, Chief, Community Planning and Grants at kzanti@howardcountymd.gov or 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Ste. 224, Columbia, MD 21046. Written community input must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Efforts will be made to accommodate persons with disabilities and non-English speaking citizens and a sign language interpreter services will be available upon request with three (3) days advance notice to Quanita Kareem, Chief, Compliance Division, at 410-313-3386, or email qkareem@howardcountymd.gov. 

The Environmental Assessment for the Lynn Buff non-congregate shelter is completed. That document can be viewed below. 

Following completion of the EA report, Howard County made a formal request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) for authorization to use HOME-ARP funds for the NCS project. The public notice announcing the findings of the environmental assessment and the County’s intent to request the use of funds is also below. 

Even though the open comment period to the County has ended, comments can be made to HUD until May 28, 2025. Comments must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and should be addressed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Baltimore Field Office, 100 S. Charles Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the comment period.

Public Comment Period: May 23 - June 21, 2025
Public Hearing: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 6:00 – 7:00pm,
9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Room 211, Columbia, MD 21046

The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development invites all interested residents, community groups, agencies, and organizations to review and comment on the second amendment to the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan. An in-person public hearing will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

In Fiscal Year 2021, Howard County was awarded $1,757,012.00 in HOME-ARP funds through a one-time allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Allocation Plan is required by HUD for the County to utilize the HOME-ARP funding. The Plan outlines how funding will be used to assist individuals or households who are: 1) homeless 2) at risk of homelessness 3) fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking 4) other families requiring services or housing assistance to prevent homelessness or those at greatest risk of housing instability. The second amendment to the plan is to amend the project budget to add an Architect and Engineering line item to specify design costs of the non-congregate shelter.

30-Day Comment Period and In-Person Public Hearing: The public will have the opportunity to review a copy of the amended HOME-ARP Allocation Plan from May 23 – June 21, 2025 by clicking below; by visiting Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046 between 8:00am–5:00pm, Monday to Friday. The public will have an opportunity to comment on Howard County’s amended HOME-ARP Allocation Plan in-person on June 12, 2025, from 6:00pm – 7:00 pm at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Room 211, Columbia, MD 21046.

Public comments regarding Howard County’s amended HOME-ARP Allocation Plan can be submitted via email, mail or fax no later than 11:59.99 pm on Saturday, June 21, 2025. To submit comments via email, contact Xavier Bishop, HOME Program Specialist at Xbishop@howardcountymd.gov. To submit comments via mail, send to Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development, 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 224, Columbia, MD 21046. To submit comments via fax, use number 410-313-5960.

Efforts will be made to provide reasonable accommodations to community members with disabilities and offer translation services during the Public Hearing. Please submit a request with three (3) days advance notice to Quanita Kareem, Compliance Division Chief, at 410-313-3386 or email qkareem@howardcountymd.gov.

Please click below to read the FFY2024 Annual Action Plan.

Please click the links below to read about Waverly Winds, a grant funded project.

To complete the CDBG and HOME program year, the County reports annually on the progress it has made toward its Consolidate Plan goal in the Consolidate Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER describes Howard County’s affordable housing and community development activities carried out over the past program year running from July 1st through June 30th each year. The CAPER also provides the community a concise breakdown of the federal funds used for activities that were undertaken during the program year and an evaluation of the County’s progress in carrying out the goals and objectives as stated in the Five Year Consolidated Plan.

• FFY2021 CAPER - Final
• FFY2022 CAPER - Final
• FFY2023 CAPER - Draft

In accordance with federal requirements for jurisdictions receiving funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing and community development programs, Howard County has prepared its FFY2022 Annual Action Plan in accordance with its five -year Consolidated Plan for FFY2020-2024.  This Action Plan outlines how the County will use federal resources to address the current housing and community development needs of our low to moderate income population, while remaining aligned with the goals outlined in our Consolidated Plan.

• HUD Approved FFY2022 Annual Action Plan

The Department has amended its Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) for programs covered under the Consolidated Plan as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). The CPP provides and encourages Howard County residents to participate in the development and review of the Consolidated Plan, The Annual Action Plan, the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI).