Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich celebrated the dedication of an affordable townhome complex in Montgomery Village on Thursday, one of 20 affordable homes that are in the process of being renovated for sale to new homeowners through a partnership among Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland (HFHMM), the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC), and the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA).  

“Homeownership provides families with stability and a chance to build equity, and that’s why this project matters," said County Executive Elrich. "I have pushed to make homeownership a priority when the County invests in affordable housing because it is the key to building wealth. Twenty families will now have a place to call their own, thanks to the work of Habitat for Humanity, HOC, and DHCA. I appreciate the effort and innovative collaboration that made these homes possible, and I look forward to seeing these families become part of the Montgomery Village community.”  

The County Executive celebrated the milestone alongside community partners, County Council members, and future homeowners who will be moving into one of the townhomes. 

"This partnership is a shining example of quality and affordable housing that delivers on our goal to make new growth inclusive and homeownership accessible to Montgomery County families," Council President Kate Stewart said. "I’m grateful to DHCA, the Housing Opportunities Commission, and Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland for all they do in our community to provide quality homes with dignity."

 All the townhomes are in the process of being sold to households earning between 35% and 63% of the Area Median Income (AMI). 

“I’m proud of Montgomery County’s commitment to meeting our affordable housing challenge head-on. Our Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Housing Opportunities Commission, and Habitat for Humanity are providing more families with the homeownership opportunities they deserve,” Councilmember Dawn Luedtke said. “I’m excited to welcome new members of the Montgomery Village community and to celebrate this important example of collaboration, creativity, and hard work.” 

Habitat for Humanity purchased the 20 townhomes, originally constructed in the 1970s, from HOC in 2024. DHCA supported the acquisition of the properties through loans made using approximately $2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which will be paid back to the County upon the sale of the homes to the new homeowners and then will be used to facilitate other affordable housing projects.

“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​DHCA is thrilled to support this innovative partnership with HOC and Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland," said DHCA Director Scott Bruton. "We are excited to leverage Federal CDBG funds to help make homeownership a reality for more Montgomery County families. CDBG funds help strengthen our communities by expanding affordable housing opportunities, creating jobs, stabilizing neighborhoods, and improving the overall quality of life.​”

DHCA administers the federal CDBG program on behalf of the County. CDBG funds are used to support a wide range of community development activities that build economic opportunities, especially for low- and moderate-income households.  

“HOC is always working to find new ways of addressing the affordable housing shortage in Montgomery County,” said HOC President Chelsea Andrews. “We are even more excited when we are able to be a bridge to wealth creation with homeownership as a vehicle. We are proud that this creative partnership with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and DHCA has succeeded in creating homeownership opportunities for these 20 families.” 

All the approximately 1,200-square-foot homes are undergoing extensive renovations, with the priority placed on increasing sustainability. These renovations include:  

• New insulated windows and exterior doors; 

• Modern energy efficient appliances, water heaters, and HVAC units; 

• Roof replacement; and 

• Interior door, flooring, and drywall repairs.  

The future homebuyers work alongside paid contractors to complete the necessary renovations.  

“Each of these new homeowners were selected based on housing need, their ability to pay the zero-interest mortgage on the home, and on their willingness to actually do some of the renovation work, as well as complete extensive homeowner education courses,” explained Jeffrey Dee, president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland. “The cost to renovate and upgrade each house was about $120,000; however, the most valuable and meaningful long-term contribution from each family was the amount of hours spent working on their homes.”