About the HOTF
Pursuant to Howard County Code Section 13.1600, DHCD is authorized to administer the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund in accordance with guidelines established by House Bill 878-2022.
The fund will be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development to promote and support equitable, geographically disbursed and affordable rental and for-sale housing opportunities throughout the County and assist in alleviating the difficulties of many low- and moderate-income households, including seniors and persons with disabilities, to obtain and maintain housing that meets their needs at costs that they can afford; and to meet these needs by providing funding for rental housing development, preservation and rehabilitation, rental assistance, homeownership, home improvements and other affordable housing opportunities.
The Housing Opportunities Trust Fund can be used to provide loans, grants, or guarantees to
- Construct new affordable housing units;
- Acquire land upon which affordable housing may be constructed;
- Buy and rehabilitate existing rental units that might otherwise be removed from the supply of affordable housing;
- Increase the accessibility of new and existing housing, both rental and homeownership;
- Support home modifications or improvements to help residents age in place;
- Assist with the purchase of for-sale housing; and
- Provide rent subsidies to low-income households.
HOTF Advisory Committee
The Housing Opportunities Trust Fund Advisory Committee will be comprised of seven members. Committee membership should reflect the racial, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and cultural diversity of Howard County. Members will serve initial term of eighteen months. Subsequent terms will be determined.
Committee Members:
- Robbyn Harris, Chair
- Timothy Goetzinger, Co-Chair
- Ada Bohorfoush
- Kimberley Amprey Flowers
- Margaret Gold
- Richard Pardoe
- Jim Sanders
Meetings
Question & Answers
The Department hosted three (3) Q&A sessions. Please review the notes below:
2023 Housing Opportunities Trust Fund Awarded Organizations
The Housing Opportunities Trust Fund (HOTF) was awarded $5 million dollars to be used for its 1st round of funding. The HOTF Advisory Committee received 12 applications and is pleased to announce the following awards:
The ARC of Howard County awarded $67,229 – The ARC will provide rental housing subsidies to keep 28 very low-income residents with intellectual/developmental disabilities safely housed for another year.
Rebuilding Together Howard County awarded $100,000 – Rebuilding Together will assist low-income homeowners, older adults, and residents with disabilities with no-cost home repairs and home modifications to enable them to age in place. This is also a recommendation of the County’s Age-Friendly Initiative.
Howard County Housing Commission awarded $250,000 – The Housing Commission will provide $12,000 in down payment assistance to 20 Housing Choice Voucher tenants (5 per year) to become first-time homebuyers.
Bridges to Housing Stability awarded $500,000 – Bridges will acquire 6 condominiums or townhomes for leasing to low-income tenants (3 residents at 30% AMI and 3 at 60% AMI).
Mission First Housing Development Corporation awarded $1.6M – Mission First would use the funds to help close a $3.5M financing gap on the Patuxent Commons rental community in Columbia. This project will provide 69 units to be leased at affordable rents to residents with household incomes at 30%, 50% and 60%. There will be 7 market rate units. If fully funded, construction would begin in Spring 2024. The construction timeline is 17 months.
Community Action Council (CAC) awarded $482,771 – CAC will use the funds to preserve existing homes in Howard County, keeping low-income homeowners, persons over the age of 65, and households with specialized needs stably housed by providing necessary repairs and weatherization services for 16 homes.