The National Association of Counties (NACo) has recognized the innovative Community Volunteer Program operated by the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) Office of Landlord-Tenant-Affairs (OLTA) with a 2025 NACo Achievement Award. The OLTA’s Community Volunteer Program provides an opportunity for individuals to serve their community by providing education and guidance to both landlords and tenants who request services from the OLTA.  

“DHCA’s Office of Tenant-Landlord Affairs plays a vital role educating Montgomery County Residents and helping renters and landlords avoid problems and resolve disputes. This work would not be possible without the contributions of our outstanding community volunteers,” said DHCA Director Scott Bruton. “This award recognizes the meaningful impact of the Community Volunteer Program and highlights it as a model for other jurisdictions.” 

Volunteer activities include fielding phone calls and meeting with landlords and tenants to answer questions and help address the challenges those requesting the service are facing. In some cases, volunteers have also worked to engage and educate members of the public in other ways, such as attending and presenting at community meetings. 

DHCA received the NACo Achievement Award in the Civic Education and Public Information category. The award gives particular recognition to the contributions of two longtime OLTA volunteers, Melvyn (Mel) Herman and Michael (Mike) Rosenzweig. Mel’s initiative led to the creation of the Community Volunteer Program in 2004, when he was helping a friend navigate a dispute with her landlord and saw the positive impact the OLTA process could have for both tenants and landlords.  Mel volunteers weekly to respond to public inquiries and improve education and awareness of landlords’ and tenants’ rights and responsibilities. During his tenure at the OLTA he has provided guidance to over 20,000 landlords and tenants.  Mike is the second-longest-tenured volunteer for the program and has served for the last nine years, contributing his expertise to support community members. He also volunteers as a Commissioner for the County’s Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs (COLTA), which adjudicates landlord-tenant disputes. 

To view resources from the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs, including the Landlord-Tenant Handbook and information about how to file a complaint, visit DHCA’s website at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dhca/housing/landlordtenant/. 

To learn more about opportunities to volunteer within the County, visit the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/.