Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Talking Points at the 2017 Regional Housing Affordability Convening
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
777 North Capitol Street, Suite 300, Washington DC
As prepared
Overview –
We are an affluent community, yet affordable housing remains a significant challenge for many of our residents.
Providing affordable housing opportunities for Montgomery County residents has been a priority since I assumed office.
My Recommended budget provides more resources to our Montgomery Housing Initiative fund than ever before … over $59M
Over the last 10 years, the County’s total investment in affordable housing has exceeded $900 million enabling us to preserve and create nearly 60,000 affordable housing units.
Another benefit has been the nearly $1 billion investment in housing development and rehabilitation leveraged with these funds
Senior Housing –
Permanent affordable housing opportunities benefit everyone, especially our seniors.
I am committed to actively promoting policies to expand housing options for our senior residents.
As the County’s general population grows and evolves, there are additional challenges that must also be addressed.
Our senior population is increasing, and along with that growth are increased demands on many County goods and services, including affordable housing, home health care, and senior transportation.
During my tenure, DHCA has participated in the development of thirteen senior housing projects, of which seven are complete, two are underway, and four are committed. Included in this is the Mt. Jezreel Affordable Senior Housing project that celebrated its groundbreaking just last month.
These projects will produce or preserve 1595 total senior rental units, including 1215 units affordable to seniors at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Tenant Rights –
An important part of the mission of DHCA is to maintain a marketplace that is fair to both tenants and landlords.
DHCA is responsible for inspecting apartment buildings for certain safe housing conditions and promoting tenant rights.
Through the enactment of recent legislation (Bill 19-15), and with improved resources that I recommended, DHCA is ratcheting up its efforts in ways that benefit everybody.
Over the next two years, DHCA will be inspecting every apartment building in the County, looking at a greater number of units in each building, and if warranted, inspecting every unit.
As always, when we find violations we will issue citations and inspect again, until corrected.
We will be creating an inventory of buildings and the status of each to identify those that require extra attention to remain in compliance.
It is anticipated that our enhanced code enforcement will require property owners to do more than just maintain properties.
While it is expected that larger property owners can manage the increased enforcement, smaller owners may not have the same ability.
Potentially, renters at these properties may be impacted by this and face rent increases.
Because of this, my recommended budget includes funding to reinstitute the Rehab Program for Small Rental Properties, which provides low interest loans for small owners in exchange for restricting rent increases.
The work gets done and tenants don’t pay the bill.
Fair Housing –
Montgomery County’s Office of Human Rights directs a comprehensive Fair Housing program that includes testing for discrimination in the rental or sale of housing, home mortgage financing and compliance with architectural guidelines for the protection of individuals with disabilities.
It also includes educational components and enforcement action and monitoring of compliance with the County’s Fair Housing Ordinance.
In 2015, HUD updated and substantially revised the requirements for entitlement jurisdictions to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing and further the purpose of the 1968 Fair Housing Act.
The new requirements include more robust analysis of housing discrimination and the effects of public policies on such discrimination.
HUD is encouraging regional cooperation in creating a new Assessment of Fair Housing and Montgomery County is currently in talks with other DC metropolitan jurisdictions about working together on this.
The Assessment will be due to HUD in late 2019 or early 2020.
Homeownership –
I recently announced a new initiative, the Montgomery Homeownership Program.
As Montgomery County has the highest housing costs in Maryland, it is particularly challenging to save enough funds to purchase a home here.
Homeownership is considered by many to be the most affordable and predictable way for individuals and families to pay for housing.
So, we want to help expand access to homeownership as part of Montgomery County’s efforts to promote affordable housing.
In a partnership with the State, Montgomery County has committed one million dollars to the Montgomery Homeownership Program, which offers qualified homebuyers assistance with down-payment and closing costs.
Importance of Diversity of Programs / Services and Federal Funding
The County administers numerous housing programs, including the Group Home Program, Single Family Rehab Program, MPDU Program, Workforce Housing Program, Multifamily Development Program, Focused Neighborhood Assistance, Commercial Revitalization, Weatherization Program, Closing Cost and Rental Assistance.
The diversity of our programs help residents of at all income levels throughout the y.
We also help to provide a variety of housing services to residents including, educational, medical, eviction prevention, life skills, career development, peer support, legal, and variety of wrap around services for special needs groups
It is my priority to assist our most vulnerable residents and maintain the "Montgomery Way"
We must remain vigilant to changes that are being proposed at the federal and State levels.
Indeed, any significant reductions in funding for, or significant changes to, Federal health care laws and programs, as well as programs aimed to assist our most vulnerable neighbors, could have significant consequences for our residents.
May 15; 10 a.m.