From Need to New Units at #MACoCon

State and local housing leaders examine financing tools that can help Maryland counties support affordable housing development and homeownership.

Jake Day, Secretary of Housing and Community Development

Turning the need for affordable housing into new units often depends on whether projects can secure workable financing. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate Lily Qi moderated a discussion with state, county, and housing leaders on the financing challenges facing rental development, starter homes, and homeownership opportunities, as well as the public programs and local tools that can help counties attract investment and support housing production across a range of incomes.

  • Jake Day, Secretary, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development spoke about DHCD’s efforts to make housing more affordable, including restricting how government functions and new financing programs meant to bring down the cost of capitol.
  • Terry Hickey, Director, Baltimore County Department of Housing & Community Development gave a local perspective and spoke about how Baltimore County has moved to prioritize housing development under the two most recent County Executive. He also spoke about the Briefing Room Podcast, which is running a series on housing finance.
  • Scott Bruton, Director, Montgomery County Department of Housing & Community Affairs spoke about Montgomery County’s historic investment in affordable housing, including several high profile projects with lessons that can be replicated by other counties.
  • Molly Hilligoss, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County gave a nonprofits perspective, talking about how state and county process can be improved and how both levels of government can better use local resources to establish cheaper unit financing.

For counties, expanding housing supply will require not only land and approvals, but financing strategies that can move projects from concept to completion.