Housing and Community Development Archives

Community Development Conference Heads to Baltimore County This October

Community development professionals from Maryland and across the country will gather in Baltimore County this October for four days of training, networking, and discussions on housing, economic development, homelessness, and community resilience. The National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) will hold its 51st Annual Educational Conference and Training October 5-8, 2026, at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel in Towson. Hosted in partnership with Baltimore County, this year’s conference, “Harnessing Momentum, Driving Change,”…

Comments Off

September 23, 2026

County Budgets / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: Baltimore City’s War on Vacancy

For decades, vacant and abandoned properties have been one of Baltimore City’s most persistent challenges. Now, the numbers are moving in a different direction. Vacant homes have fallen from more than 16,000 to fewer than 12,000 during Mayor Brandon Scott’s time in office, while census estimates show Baltimore gaining residents for the first time in a decade. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street…

Comments Off

September 22, 2026

Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Planning and Zoning

Webinar To Explore How Local Governments Can Turn Comprehensive Plans Into Zoning Action

A comprehensive plan may set a community’s long-term vision, but putting it into practice often comes down to local zoning. An upcoming Maryland Department of Planning webinar will use Chestertown as a case study to explore how local governments can better align zoning regulations with comprehensive planning goals. Implementing Comprehensive Plans Through Zoning: How Local Governments Are Advancing Sustainable Land Use will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The…

Comments Off

September 16, 2026

Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: All Bangers, No Mash

Housing’s biggest challenges rarely have a single solution. What happens when you stop talking about the housing problem and start kicking the tires on possible solutions? In Episode 9, Dom and Terry are joined by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day for a rapid-fire look at some of the ideas gaining attention in the housing conversation. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to…

Comments Off

September 15, 2026

Education / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Public Safety and Corrections

New $50M Homebuyer Program Supports First Responders and Teachers

Maryland has launched a new mortgage program offering lower interest rates and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers who work as first responders or teachers. Applications for the new program are now open. The First Homes for First Responders and Teachers program offers eligible buyers a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with an interest rate 0.5 percentage points below the standard Maryland Mortgage Program First Time Advantage 5% loan. Buyers can also receive assistance equal to 5%…

Comments Off

September 9, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: The Hemlock Grove Playbook

For the final episode of The Briefing Room's housing finance series, the conversation heads west to Garrett County, where local leaders are putting many of the tools explored throughout the series into practice. Dom Butchko and Baltimore County Housing and Community Development Director Terry Hickey are joined by Garrett County Commissioner Paul Edwards and Liz Georg of the Garrett County Housing Commission to explore Hemlock Grove, an innovative housing development designed to address a challenge…

Comments Off

September 1, 2026

Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Transportation and Public Works

More States and Localities Adopt Rental Cooling Requirements

As extreme heat intensifies, states and counties are adopting new requirements to ensure rental housing has adequate cooling. As extreme heat becomes more frequent and dangerous, state and local governments are increasingly reconsidering whether access to working air conditioning should be treated as a basic housing requirement. Houston recently adopted rules requiring landlords to provide and maintain cooling in rental units, joining jurisdictions such as Phoenix, New York City, Dallas, and Austin that have established…

Comments Off

August 31, 2026

County News / Housing and Community Development / Taxes and Revenues

Maryland Appeals Court Clarifies Tax Sale Redemption Rules

The Appellate Court of Maryland has clarified which unpaid taxes and water bills must be paid when an owner seeks to redeem a property sold at tax sale, providing new guidance for local governments that administer the process. In an August 26 decision, the court held that property taxes accruing after a tax sale must be paid at redemption only if they are already in arrears. The court also held that unpaid water charges may…

Comments Off

August 31, 2026

Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / NACo Achievement Awards / Transportation and Public Works

Montgomery County Award Winning Innovations Connect Communities and Build Resilience

Montgomery County earned national recognition for initiatives that improve how residents move through their communities, prepare critical infrastructure for disruptions, and help residents make informed decisions about their health and safety. Transportation is a major part of that work. In June 2025, Montgomery County implemented its Ride On Zero Fare Policy, eliminating passenger fares across Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On Flex, and Flash buses. The policy aims to remove financial barriers for riders,…

Comments Off

August 27, 2026

Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use

Baltimore Housing Forum to Examine Federal Action, Local Impact

A September 2 housing forum in Baltimore City will bring together local, state, and national leaders to discuss how federal housing legislation could affect communities on the ground. Baltimore City Council Member Odette Ramos will host “The Impact of Federal Legislation on Baltimore City” on Wednesday, September 2, at Baltimore Unity Hall. The discussion will focus on the federal ROAD to Housing Act and other housing initiatives moving at the federal level. The program will…

Comments Off

August 27, 2026